Micromégas

服尔德 / Fu LeiApr 2017

Rating 4.2
Word count
11K words
Chapters
8

Tags

Foreign Literature Life PhilosophyComplex HumanityCuriosityIntellectual EnlightenmentWestern ThoughtHumor ReliefCross-Cultural View

Summary

Fu Lei (April 7, 1908 – September 3, 1966) was a renowned Chinese translator, writer, educator and art critic. He studied at the University of Paris in his early years. He translated a large number of French works, including masterpieces by Balzac, Romain Rolland, Voltaire and other celebrated authors. In the early 1960s, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to translating Balzac, Fu Lei was elected a member of the French Balzac Research Society. Mr. Fu Lei had a prolific career in translation spanning some thirty years; his translations are known for their fidelity to the spirit of the original, fluent prose, rich diction and a fine sense for tonal color. This book is Voltaire's tale Micromégas.

Editor's review

Micromégas is published as a standalone volume. It is not long, yet it serves well as an entry point to Voltaire's narrative wit. The story uses a "little giant" perspective to create distance, making ordinary human affairs seem both ridiculous and thought-provoking; the satire does not rely on preaching but emerges naturally from the setup and dialogue. Fu Lei's translation shines here: fluent prose, careful diction and delicate tonal variation, reading with a sense of the exotic yet never awkward. It suits reading in one sitting, and also rewards returning to seemingly light sentences afterward. Note that this is a single work, not a short-story collection; readers who want more Voltaire should look for a selected edition. Also, those seeking only lively plot may find it more speculative than action-driven. Overall, it is a light yet lingering little book.

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Reading tips

  1. Read it through in one go first, then go back and reread the dialogue-heavy passages.
  2. While reading, note the sense of distance and contrast created by the "little giant" perspective.
  3. After reading, summarize the target of the satire in three sentences to check your understanding.
  4. If reading Fu Lei's translation, choose a passage to read aloud and feel the rhythm.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 一 一个天狼星系的居民游历士星
  3. 二 天狼星居民与土星居民的谈话
  4. 三 天狼星居民与土星居民的旅行
  5. 四 他们在地球上的遭遇
  6. 五 两位旅客的实验与讨论
  7. 六 他们与人类的接触
  8. 七 与人类的谈话

FAQ

Is Micromégas a novel or a short story? Based on the information, this book is Voltaire's Micromégas published as a standalone volume, a relatively short work rather than a lengthy novel. For the exact length, refer to the physical book, but readers can expect to finish it in one or two sittings.
I haven't read other works by Voltaire—can I start with this one? Yes. This is a standalone work that does not depend on prior works. As long as you don't mind satire, there is no obstacle to entering the story directly; a little knowledge of the Enlightenment beforehand will help but is not necessary.
What is the difference between this book and Selected Short Stories of Voltaire? The former is a selected collection of short stories containing multiple pieces; this book is Micromégas as a standalone volume. To encounter Voltaire's short fiction broadly, choose the anthology; to focus on one work and examine the translation closely, this book is more suitable.
Are the characteristics of Fu Lei's translation evident in this book? Yes. The information emphasizes that Fu Lei's translation is faithful to the spirit, fluent, rich in diction and sensitive to tonal color. This book's short length makes it ideal for savoring these qualities passage by passage; reading a few passages aloud will give a more direct sense.

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About the author

服尔德 Author

Voltaire (Fuzi'erde) is a foreign literary author known for his philosophical fiction; public information about him is limited, and his nationality and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded. Eleven of his works are held in the collection, including Candide, The Ingenuous One, Zadig, Micromégas, and Selected Short Stories of Voltaire, indicating that his writing consists mainly of short and medium-length narratives. These works are often classified as foreign literature, classic works, and world classics. They typically use fictional characters and journeys to distant lands as narrative threads, employing exaggeration, satire, and absurd plots to discuss fate, reason, optimism, and human nature in a witty and understated style. Candide, his best-known work, is an important entry point for understanding his style. Overall, Voltaire's works combine narrative appeal with intellectual sharpness; they continue to be translated and read in Chinese-speaking contexts and have had a considerable influence on later philosophical and satirical fiction.

Fu Lei Author · China · 1908–1966

Fu Lei (1908–1966), styled Nu'an and known by the sobriquet Nu'an, was a native of Nanhui, Shanghai, and a renowned Chinese translator, writer and literary critic. He studied at the University of Paris in his early years and devoted his life to translating more than thirty works by French masters such as Balzac, Romain Rolland and Voltaire. Adhering to the principle of valuing spiritual resemblance over formal likeness, his translations are celebrated for their vividness and concision and are still widely read today. His renditions of Jean-Christophe, Le Père Goriot and Eugénie Grandet have long served as key pathways for Chinese readers into French literature. Beyond translation, he wrote Letters from Fu Lei and Twenty Lectures on World Masterpieces of Art, works marked by sincerity and learning. The library holds 295 of his works, spanning essays, foreign literature and classic translations, testifying to the enduring influence of his writing and translation in the Chinese-speaking world.