Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 519 A truly rare find!

Americans, far across the Atlantic, echoed the same lament.

They are all loyal readers of Harper's Weekly, a literary magazine published by Harper Brothers Publishing.

Near the end of his trip to the United States last year, Lionel signed an exclusive agency agreement for his works with Harper Brothers Publishing.

So after completing Pirates of the Caribbean, he immediately sent it to the editor-in-chief of Harper Brothers Publishing via a transoceanic cruise ship.

Then, after telegram negotiations between the two parties, it was decided that the novel would be serialized in Harper Weekly, rather than published as a standalone book like The Old Man and the Sea.

As Le Parisien began serializing Pirates of the Caribbean, the latest issue of Harper's Weekly also hit the shelves.

The cover features the usual political cartoons, while the inside pages contain editorials, current affairs reports, serialized novels, and home furnishing advertisements.

However, on the table of contents page, the phrase "Serialization begins in this issue" is written in bold:

[Pirates of the Caribbean, by Lionel Sorel]

There is another line of smaller text below:
[A fun story about freedom and adventure.]

At nine o'clock in the morning, lines had already formed in front of newsstands on Broadway in New York.

Tom, the newsstand owner, called out as he collected money and handed out newspapers: "New issue of Harper's! There's a new novel by a Frenchman! Pirates outsmart the British Navy!"

Most of those queuing were office workers, dressed in suits and top hats, walking briskly. They rarely chatted while buying newspapers, and basically just grabbed theirs and left.

But today several people asked an extra question: "Pirates? Which country?"

Tom shrugged: "God knows, his name is 'Jack Sparrow,' but he's fighting the British."

The person who asked the question laughed: "Oh, fight the British? I'll have to see."

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At noon, the dockworkers and sailors took a break.

They don't buy Harper's Weekly because it's too expensive and the content is too "highbrow".

But that didn't stop them from browsing the newspapers on the tavern's shelves.

When Frank Lee, the first mate of the "Future," entered the "Anchor & Chain" bar, a group of people had already gathered around the bar.

Marius, the newspaper reader, was reading aloud the first issue of "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Frank Lee squeezed through the crowd, ordered a beer and a cream of mushroom soup from the bartender, and ate, drank, and listened.

Marius read it well; his voice was husky but very energetic.

As he read the part about Jack Sparrow arriving in port on a sunken ship, a few whistles rang out in the tavern.

"This kid knows how to play!"

"He's still trying to look cool even though the ship's sunk!"

The laughter grew even louder when the story got to the part where Jack played tricks on the British soldiers in the naval port; some people slapped their thighs, while others banged the bottoms of their glasses on the table.

"That's exactly how they should be treated!"

"That British drill system is utterly useless!"

Frank Lee listened, a grin spreading across his face. He was an old sailor who had sailed the Caribbean and had seen the British Navy.

Those officers were indeed arrogant, looking at the American ships as if they were country bumpkins.

After Marius finished reading the first episode, the pub erupted in discussion.

"What happened next? Were they arrested?"

"We'll continue next time."

"Tsk, that's really whetting people's appetites."

Frank Lee downed the rest of his beer in one gulp and said to Marius, "Next time, let's continue reading!"

"That is required!"

Several young sailors were still discussing it.

“This Jack is a lot like my cousin, always talking nonsense, but he always manages to get away with it.”

"Your cousin has never messed with the British Navy."

"That's because there wasn't a chance."

Everyone laughed, and the tavern was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Frank Lee stepped out of the bar; the afternoon sun was blinding.

He thought the good thing about this story was its simplicity; there was no need to think about any deeper meaning or sympathize with anyone, just enjoy it for fun.

What's more, this "fun" is coming from the British—in America, that's never wrong!
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Boston, Athena Library.

This is one of the oldest private libraries in the city, and its members are mostly lawyers, businessmen, and doctors.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, several members sat in the reading room. They had just finished reading today's Harper Weekly, and the newspaper was still spread out on their laps.

Charles, the middle-aged lawyer, spoke first: "This Sorel is quite interesting. This novel is much more interesting than the previous one, 'The Old Man and the Sea'."

A banker across from me nodded: "The writing style is also very novel, even more captivating than Dumas's novels!"
Look at this Jack Sparrow, he doesn't seem like a hero from a traditional adventure novel.

The heroes in Dumas's novels all have a set of moral principles, but this Jack only thinks of himself!

A retired professor commented, "And he relied not on force, but on his words and luck."

In reality, it wouldn't survive three chapters, but in a novel, readers love it.

Charles flipped back to the first few paragraphs and asked, "Do you think this story has any depth?"

The banker said bluntly, “No. But it doesn’t need to. It’s just a relaxing story.”

These days, newspapers are full of reports about railway strikes, economic crises, and political scandals... Reading something like that is quite good.

The professor also said, "My son will definitely love it. He's sixteen, which is exactly the age to love these kinds of stories."

Everyone laughed, and the reading room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere!

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Philadelphia, a middle-class family.

After dinner, her husband John sat in an armchair in the living room reading Harper's Weekly.

Mary, the wife, was mending clothes, while their ten-year-old son, John, was lying on the carpet playing with a wooden boat.

John couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw something funny.

Mary, the wife, looked up and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

John handed over the newspaper: "This novel is about a pirate who outwits the British navy. It's quite funny."

Mary took it and scanned a few paragraphs. She could read, but she didn't usually read adventure novels.

This time, however, she looked at the newspaper for a long time, unable to put it down. Little John got up from the floor: "Mom, read it to me quickly!"

Mary began to read it aloud. Her voice was gentle, but the plot of "Pirates of the Caribbean" was just too interesting.

When she read the part about Jack jumping off the ship, John's eyes widened; when she read about Jack running around in the naval port, John chuckled.

After reading the first issue, Little John exclaimed, "And then what? Did he run away?"

Mary closed the newspaper with a sigh: "We'll have to wait until next issue to find out."

"I want to see the next episode!"

John laughed: "Then I'll buy Harper's Bazaar every week."

Little John was satisfied and went back to play with the ship—only this time, he imagined a pirate jumping around on the ship.

Mary returned the newspaper to John and continued mending. But after a while, she suddenly said, "This pirate is different."

"Why is it different?"

“In the old stories, pirates were either fierce and evil, or they later reformed.”

But this Jack isn't fierce, nor does he seem like a bad guy..."

John thought for a moment and said, "Now that you mention it, it's true."

"Women don't feel scared when they see this kind of character."

"you like him?"

"I wouldn't say I like it. But I feel it's very novel."

"Yes, and they were playing the British, well done!"

John and his wife laughed, and the house was filled with a joyful atmosphere!
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Washington, D.C., an officers' club.

The atmosphere here is solemn, with portraits of past presidents and war memorabilia hanging on the walls.

The members are mostly retired military officers and active-duty soldiers, and their conversations revolve around strategy, policy, and past events.

At seven o'clock in the evening, several officers sat by the fireplace, one of them holding Harper's Weekly, having just finished reading the first issue of Pirates of the Caribbean.

He put the newspaper back on the table: "Have you read it?"

A colonel across from me said, "I read it, it's quite entertaining to write!"

A veteran who fought in the American Civil War said, "If the British Navy were really that stupid, we would have had a much easier time in 1812."

Everyone laughed.

"But this is a novel. It's written this way because Americans like to read it."

"The French love watching it too. I have a friend who works at the Chinese Embassy in France, and he said this story is incredibly popular in Paris."

"Of course, the French and British have been fighting for centuries, and recently the French even lost Canada. Their resentment runs even deeper than ours."

"That's why only the French would write so harshly about the British. Look at what Jack Sparrow said—"

"Gentlemen, if queuing could win a war, you would have conquered the entire solar system long ago!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the club.

"This should be printed on T-shirts."

"Who's it for? Sailors?"

"For all those who are annoyed by the British to wear."

The laughter grew louder, and the club was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

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In the editorial office of Harper's Weekly, owner Henry Harper looked at the newly delivered sales report, his face beaming with excitement.

James, the head of distribution, said, "Sales increased by 20 percent this issue. Young men and families accounted for 60% of new subscriptions!"

Henry Harper nodded and then asked, "What about the letters from readers?"

James pushed a stack of letters over: "There are three times more than the last issue, and almost all of them are praising Lionel's writing and asking if there can be more installments in the next issue."

Only a few letters were critical, saying the story was frivolous and shouldn't be published in a serious weekly like ours.

Henry Harper scoffed. Serious? Seriousness can't be turned into cash.

He walked to the window. As evening fell and New York City lights began to twinkle, horse-drawn carriages rattled by, and newsboys were still hawking their evening papers.

James offered his suggestion: "This novel is a gold mine! Not just a serial. We can do an illustration special and find a good artist to do it."

A stage play adaptation could also be considered—this role is perfect for acting. It could even be published as a standalone book in the future, a high-priced, illustrated hardcover edition!

Henry Harper turned around: "Then do it your way. Add illustrations, discuss adaptations, and prepare a hardcover edition."

But we need to communicate clearly with Sorel regarding copyright and revenue sharing. We can't let Mr. Carnegie come knocking again!

James nodded: "Understood!"

The two exchanged knowing smiles, and the editor-in-chief's office was filled with a cheerful atmosphere!

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In 1882 America, people also needed to relieve their fatigue.

The economy fluctuates, wages rise and fall, cities are expanding, and the pace of life is getting faster and faster.

The newspapers were filled with anxiety-inducing news: strikes, bankruptcies, and political struggles.

Then came Jack Sparrow, who didn't address any real-world problems—he didn't talk about wages, rights, or reform.

He simply tricked a group of British soldiers and then made his escape.

Americans love watching this!

They don't need to repair their national dignity from this story—their national dignity is intact, and is even expanding.

They don't need to use it to vent their political grievances—they have other outlets for their political grievances.

All they need is a clever, lucky, and unruly character to play a trick on someone they've been playing tricks on since the founding of the nation.

Then they can laugh easily and enjoy themselves without any burden.

Therefore, Pirates of the Caribbean achieved even greater success in the United States than in France.

It is not heavy, not painful, and does not require the reader to carry anything; it only offers joy.

Happiness was a true rarity in America in 1882!

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The only person who received the manuscript for "Pirates of the Caribbean" but was not happy at all was Dr. Norman MacLeod, the editor of the London magazine "Good Words".

(Second update, thank you everyone, please vote with monthly tickets, there will be a third update later.)
(End of this chapter)