閱讀歐文·斯通 Irving Stone在百家争鸣的作品!!! | |||
他的寫作生涯是從寫劇本開始的，以後轉嚮人物傳記小說的創作。他一生寫了二十五部傳記小說，其中最有名的是《梵高傳——對生活的渴求》（1934）。他還為傑剋·倫敦、米開朗基羅、弗洛伊德、達爾文等歷史文化名人寫過傳，在歐美各國很有影響，我國譯過一些，也很受讀者好評。
對於傳記作傢來說，始終面臨一個歷史的真實性與藝術虛構之間的關係問題。也就是說，在歷史與文學之間如何把握，傳記作傢是各個不同的。
歐文·斯通是什麽情況呢？他寫的是“傳記小說”。說他寫的是小說，是因為他在史實的基礎上虛構人物的對話，渲染人物的內心世界，還常有“儘管無據可查，然而我相信有可能發生的小插麯”。（《梵高傳》附記）最說明問題的是每書開篇的寫法。他喜歡選擇傳主青少年時代具有戲劇性的生活轉折點下筆。這種戲劇性的情節類似法國著名傳記作傢莫洛亞的“小說情趣”。
不論是史實傳記還是傳記小說，一個中心問題是怎麽樣寫好傳主，怎麽樣把主人公的思想、感情、品格、氣質、成就傳達出來。為了再現傳主的精神面貌，斯通在史料上所下的功夫不亞於史傳作者，取得了大量第一手材料。
傳記作傢都有自己的愛好，使斯通醉心的是歷史文化名人。他筆下的傳主是這樣一些精英：在某個文化領域歷盡艱辛、堅毅不拔，最後取得不朽成就的人；不顧統治者逼迫利誘，敢於犯上，為大衆尋找解放之路的人；在沒有人走過的荒野裏披荊斬棘，開出一條藝術道路的人；在漆黑的隧道中尋找盡頭，發現微弱光綫的人；不怕權威，不顧衆人訕笑，勇往直前探索科學真理的人。
獨木不成林。寫一個藝術傢或者政治傢，不能孤立地寫他一個人，而是要寫出以傳主為中心的世界。斯通閱讀傳主的書面材料之後，一定要采訪在傳主一生中起過作用的人，走遍傳主到過的地方，對周圍的環境進行考察等等。這就是以感性知識去構建和充實一個完整的藝術世界，從中心人物的人際關係中，從他如何對待各種各樣事件的態度中，表現傳主的精神氣質和性格特徵。在主人公活動的背景描寫中，我們還可以看到斯通現實主義小說逼真的細節描寫。
北京十月文藝出版社這次推出的《歐文·斯通文集》包括十一部重要的傳記小說。因為這些傳記的內容涉及政治、法律、歷史、科學、醫學、文學藝術等多方面內容，編輯部力求在各方面專傢或內行人中組織譯稿。他們對譯文的要求不衹是準確，還要求通暢、生動，所以這是一套高質量的傳記叢書，能夠滿足不同讀者的需要。我相信中國讀者讀了這些歷史名人的傳記，不僅可以得到藝術的享受，還可能在思想境界上取得一點升華。衹有站在這些文化名人的高度，才能對比、看清我們今天的現實，從而奮起直追，去攀登科學、文化的高峰。
這套文集的出版對我國創作界也不無鏡鑒作用。中國是文明古國，歷史名人無計其數，尤其是近代以降史料增多，為作傢們發揮想像鋪下了堅實的地基。那些在政治、科技、教育、文學、藝術等方面做出卓越貢獻的歷史文化名人，期待着作傢們再現他們當年的輝煌。
《梵高傳——對生活的渴求》等
Biography
In 1923, Stone received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In the 1960s, Stone received an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Southern California, where he had previously earned a Masters Degree from the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
When at home, Stone relied upon the research facilities and expertise made available to him by Esther Euler, head research librarian of the University of California at Los Angeles, to whom he dedicated and thanked, in addition to many others, in several of his works.
Stone enjoyed a long marriage to his wife and editor on many of his works, Jean Stone. The Stones lived primarily in Los Angeles, California. During their lifetime, Stone and his wife funded a foundation to support charitable causes they believed in.
Stone's main source for Lust for Life, as noted in the afterword, were Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo. Stone additionally did much of his research "in the field". For example, he spent many years living in Italy while working on The Agony and the Ecstasy. The Italian government lauded Stone with several honorary awards during this period for his cultural achievements highlighting Italian history.
Stone wrote at length about the life and work of Charles Darwin in his bookThe Origin, after doing meticulous research. How Darwin's accidental five year voyage on The Beagle led to his extensive observations and writings. Eventually leading to his theory of evolution, which shook the contemporary conservative British society to its core.
Stone wrote in great detail about Sigmund Freud's life and his contributions to the field of psychoanalysis in his book The Passions of the Mind. His background as a medical researcher in Vienna, his study in Paris with Dr. Charcot and translation of his works into German, how his thinking leads him to the concept of unconscious. These coupled with his ideas of the linkage between sex and unconscious, creates ripples in the conservative Vinnese psychiatry circles. Slowly a band of followers emerge, notable ones being Carl Jung, Karl Abraham etc. Some of them defect later to come up with some dissenting views. On the personal side, Sigmund's happy married life with his lady love Martha Bernays. Against the brewing anti-semitic atmosphere in Vienna just prior to beginning of world war 2, Sigmund moves to London for the final years of his life.
Film adaptation
In 1953, a popular film version was made of The President's Lady based on his 1950 novel of the same name, starring Charlton Heston as Andrew Jackson and Susan Hayward as Rachel Donelson Jackson. In 1956, a film version was made of Lust for Life, based on his 1934 novel, starring Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh. In 1965, a film was made of The Agony and the Ecstasy, starring Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II.
Selected literary output
Some of Stone's important historical biographical works include:
Lust for Life (1934) - based on the life of Vincent van Gogh
Sailor on Horseback (1938) - based on the life of Jack London.
Clarence Darrow For the Defense (1941) - biography of Clarence Darrow
They Also Ran (1944, updated 1966) - based on candidates who were defeated for U.S. President
Immortal Wife (1944) - based on the life of Jessie Benton Frémont
Adversary in the House (1947) - based on the life of Eugene V. Debs and his wife Kate, who opposed socialism
Earl Warren (1948) - biography of Earl Warren
The Passionate Journey (1949) - based on the life of American artist John Noble
Love is Eternal (1954) - based on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd
Men to Match My Mountains (1956) - based on the opening of the Far West, 1840–1900
The Agony and the Ecstasy - (1961) - based on the life of Michelangelo
Those Who Love (1965) - based on the life of John Adams and Abigail Adam
The Passions of the Mind (1971) - based on the life of Sigmund Freud
The Greek Treasure (1975) - based on the discovery of Troy by Heinrich Schliemann
The Origin (1980) - based on the life of Charles Darwin
Depths of Glory (1985) - based on the life of Camille Pissarro