Summary: Why did Shanghai publishers "capture" Nobel Prize winners many times?

　　China News Service, Shanghai, October 8th (Wang Ji) Every year, the "Nobel Prize Season" is like a "poetic call", which can always set off a wave of publishing and reading.

Two days ago, the Swedish Academy announced that it would award the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature to French writer Anne Ernault.

Surprisingly, Chinese readers did not have to wait too long to appreciate the literary splendor of the Nobel Prize-winning author.

　　According to reports, the Chinese versions of Anne Ernault's three representative works "A Woman's Story", "A Man's Place" and "A Girl's Memory" will be published by Shanghai People's Publishing House in the near future.

This is the fourth time in a row that a Shanghai publisher has "bet" a Nobel Prize winner, followed by Peter Handke (Century Wenjing Shanghai People's Publishing House) in 2019 and Gluck (Century Wenjing) in 2020. Shanghai People's Publishing House), Gurna in 2021 (Shanghai Translation Publishing House).

　　What is the "secret" to "capturing" Nobel Prize winners many times?

In order to uncover the mystery, a reporter from Chinanews.com interviewed a number of Shanghai publishers.

　Why Anne Ernault?

　　Anne Ernault is a famous contemporary French writer.

The Swedish Academy said in a press release released on the same day that Erno firmly believes in the power of writing, and that her work is uncompromising, written in plain language, and spotless.

With great courage and acumen, she uncovers the roots, silos, and collective constraints of personal memory.

　　Zhao Wei, director of the Cultural Reading Editing Center of Shanghai People's Publishing House, is the editor in charge of the Chinese editions of three of Ernault's masterpieces.

In his opinion, Ernault's language is pure, simple, restrained, and minimalist, but it has great tension, and the use of words is as precise as a scalpel.

"Most of her work is about the writer's visible personal experience, but it always feels like a constant expression of another invisible reality to me."

　　According to Zhao Wei's recollection, the initial decision to introduce Ernault's works was mainly based on three considerations: "First, her works touched me, and I got resonance from her works. Second, I found Ernault himself and his works. Her works are well-known in Europe, but have never achieved a matching status in China. This may be an opportunity. Finally, there is a sociological aspect to her literary works, which has a potential echo with the social problems that are happening around us today. ."

　　When the news of Ernault winning the Nobel Prize for Literature came, some netizens shouted "unpopular" on social platforms, but Zhao Wei was more "happy" than "surprised".

"From the moment I decided to fill in the selected topics, I thought that maybe one day she would win the Nobel Prize. All of this is due to the unique charm of Erno's literary works. Her literary outlook has moved the Nobel Prize judges. I believe It can also impress domestic readers.”

Why is it "Made in Shanghai"?

　　Chinese writer Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012, which seemed to "open a window", which made Chinese readers and publishers pay more attention and expectation to the announcement of the Nobel Prize every year.

In 2017, Shanghai Translation Publishing House acquired the copyright of the works of the Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro; since 2019, the works of the 4th Nobel Prize winners have been "produced in Shanghai".

　　Wen Zeyuan, president of Shanghai People's Publishing House, believes that the publishing house's ability to "bet" the Nobel Prize this time is related to the education and vision of the editor in charge. In recent years, good editors are the biggest resource of the publishing house; on the other hand, it is also related to the publishing structure that the publishing house has insisted on for a long time.

"Philosophy and sociology have always been the focus areas of Shanghai People's Publishing House, especially French philosophy. We have introduced and published a series of works by French philosophers such as Foucault, Bourdieu, and Baudrillard, and are still publishing them. The "French Philosophical Research Series" is very influential in the academic world. Ernault himself is also very concerned about philosophy, and this time he was able to 'bet', there are inevitable factors by chance."

　　Why are there more Nobel Prize-winning works published in Shanghai?

In Wen Zeyuan's view, it is mainly related to the relatively open cultural vision and professional academic vision of Shanghai Publishing House.

"Everyone says that the Nobel Prize for Literature in recent years has always been 'upset'. In fact, there are always social factors and academic trends behind the 'coldness' that play a role in the award. The professionalism of the publishing house is reflected in the Find 'hot' from 'cold', and at the same time pay close attention to a certain publishing field and don't be too short-sighted. I think this is not only the characteristic of Shanghai People's Publishing House, but also the style of most Shanghai publishing houses. "

　　The three upcoming works by Shanghai People's Publishing House can be regarded as Ernault's famous work ("A Man's Position" first edition in 1983), representative work ("A Woman's Story" first edition in 1986) and a new work ("A Woman's Story" first edition in 1986). "A Girl's Memories" first edition 2016).

Zhao Wei revealed, "These three works are about the writer's father, mother and the writer himself, which can also reflect the ancient 'knowing yourself', Foucault's 'caring about yourself', and Erno's 'writing yourself'. ', such a vein of French culture." (End)