.... "8
Andre Maurois is one of France's greatest living writers. He is most
famous for his biographies "Ariel" (the life of Shelley), "Byron," "Dis
raeli," "Dickens," "Proust," "The Titans" (a biography of the three
Dumas), and "Lelia: the Life of George Sand," which was an outstanding
success in this country. He also is internationally known for his memoirs,
essays, plays, and fiction, including "The Art of Living," "The Miracle of
America," "The Miracle of England," and "The Miracle of France." Born
.in 1SS5, he is a member of the French Academy and the Legion of Honor.
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most of my favorites in the dark. I sup
pose it is difficult for the reader to im
agine my heartbreak at discovering there
was nothing left of a library it had taken
40 years to collect. I looked at the empty
shelves with despair. The room looked
strangely naked. I suddenly felt I should
be able to work no more. My tools had
been stolen.
I asked the concierge: "What did they
do with my books?"
"I don't know. First came two civilian
experts who had a look at the books. They
looked amazed. Then the following morn
ing they came back with three large
trucks. Everything was carefully packed.
I suppose they intended to sell them."
"If that is the case," I said, "they are
disposed of by now and scattered. There
is no hope to recover any of them. What
on earth shall we do?"
My wife up to that time had remained
silent. Her eyes were full of tears, but
she looked extraordinarily resolute.
"Don't worry," she said. "I promise you
that before three years you will have a
better library than ever. Meanwhile,
you'll work on a novel. That you can do
out of your head, without any books. As
to biographies, your next was to be Mar
cel Proust?"
"Yes. And you remember I had gotten
together the finest Proust collection."
"You'll have it again. Starting tomor
row, I'll attend all sales of books and
visit all secondhand booksellers."
"And the money?"
"Your publishers will advance the
money, I am sure."
That VERY MINUTE I knew she would
succeed. And I also knew much more.
Her simple determination made me realize
that no material loss is irreparable. On
my way to Paris I had seen many towns
destroyed by bombing. All railway sta
tions seemed smashed to pieces. Bridges
had been blown up. Suddenly I felt sure
that millions of Frenchwomen and
Frenchmen at this very moment were
saying like my wife: "Don't worry. Be
fore three years, or perhaps ten, our
town, our bridge will be rebuilt finer
than ever."
A few hours later something else hap
pened that was also an inspiration. The
news of our return had gotten around
quickly. Many literary people knew my
library had been stolen. Soon there was
a ring at the door. We opened. It was one
of the most famous French writers of the
time, carrying a big parcel of books.
"Perhaps," he said, "perhaps, it's in
discreet to intrude upon you when you
have just arrived, but I wanted to say at
once how glad I am to see you back. Also,"
he added shyly, "I know you had my
books inscribed to you by me." He looked
at the empty shelves. "So I thought it
might be a beginning of your new library
if I gave you a new collection."
Before TH5 day was over, three more
fellow-writers had called, each of
them bringing his gracious gift of books.
Also an American friend brought us a
beautiful copy of Bacon's "Essays" which
I still treasure. It was not until the last
visitor had left that we were able, my
wife and I, to sum up the situation.
"You were very courageous," I said,
"and people have been very good to us.
I can confess now that I feared return
ing to this empty house. It meant the end
of so much we loved. And, of course, it
proved painful in many ways. But at
the same time I now feel more confidence
than ever in the future of our country,
in our own future."
"Yes," she said, "people are good. It's
only when one is very unhappy that one
fully realizes their kindness. And look
at this!"
"What is it?"
"A blank paper tablet. It was brought
by an unknown lady who said: 'In case
he wants to start working.' "
"How nice! Well then, I will."
I sat at my desk and began an article.
It was strange to see the large table that
had once been littered with papers so
empty. On the enormous shelves around
me, the few gift books we had received
looked like shipwrecked men swimming in
the vast sea.
As I was writing, I had to verify a quo
tation from Shakespeare. Instinctively, I
got up and went straight to the spot
where there should have been a Shake
speare. Then I remembered but the loss
was painful no more. I felt what my wife
had said would come true. She would re
build a library finer than ever.
Nowadays, many years later, I know
we were right to trust in the future. Both
my country and my home have been re
stored. I shall never forget the brief and
unmistakable moment when love and
friendship gave us the inspiration we
so urgently needed.
o
i m
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