Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 588 A Wedding After Four Funerals

On May 21, 1883, the tranquility of the Parisian morning was shattered by a sudden piece of news.

The front page of Le Figaro carried a news article titled "Military Expedition Setback: Lieutenant Colonel Li Weiye Killed in Battle at Paper Bridge".

The article details the battle that took place on May 19 at Zhiqiao in Beiqi:

The French army was ambushed by the Black Flag Army. Commander Lieutenant Colonel Henri Livy was killed on the spot. The French army suffered more than 230 casualties, and the remnants retreated to Hanoi to hold their ground.

The newspapers were quickly snapped up. People talked about it everywhere. In cafes, men waved newspapers, their voices rising louder and louder.

"I told you! The Far East is a no-go place!"

"More than two hundred people! My God, how did they fight this battle?"

"Li Weiye was a veteran officer, and he actually died there..."

Some shook their heads and sighed, some were indignant, and others showed an expression of "I expected this."

In his apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Lionel Sorel sat at the dining table with Le Figaro and Le Temps spread out in front of him.

Both newspapers reported on the Battle of Paper Bridge on their front pages, with slightly different angles, but the facts were largely the same.

Sophie brought over the coffee, glanced at the newspaper, and asked, "Lost again?"

Lionel nodded: "It was a crushing defeat. The commander is dead, and we've suffered more than half our casualties."

How will the domestic reaction be?

Lionel picked up his coffee and took a sip: "Things will remain the same. Ferry just took office in February, and his position is very secure. One defeat won't shake him."

"But two years ago..."

“It’s different now. He’s the ‘strongman’ that everyone wants. Parliament needs him, and the people need him. A small defeat will be forgotten in a few days.”

Sophie sat down opposite him: "Last year's demonstrations made him a 'hero' again, and everyone believed that only he could solve the problems facing France."

Lionel smiled and shook his head: "Then I'm afraid what awaits us will be another disappointment."

Sure enough, reporters came to the door that afternoon. First came Le Figaro, then Le Petit Parisien, and then Le Temps.

The questions they brought were all similar: they wanted to know Lionel's opinion on the defeat and his relationship with Jules Ferry's newly formed cabinet.

Lionel's response was simple—no response. Instead of staying at his apartment at 117 Boulevard Saint-Germain to await the bombing, he went to the Bois de Boulogne.

Here, he, along with Gustave Eiffel and Charles Garnier, dug the first shovelful of earth on this land, and Zola took a group photo of them.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean Theme Park" has quietly begun construction!

The application to purchase the land encountered no obstacles and all the documents were completed at an astonishing speed, a miracle of French bureaucratic efficiency.

Looking at the lush bushes before him, Charles Garnier said to Lionel, "Now, we'll see how Pirates of the Caribbean performs."

Lionel smiled slightly: "Don't worry, the sales of this series will only continue to rise. German version, Russian version, Spanish version, Italian version..."

This year, it will be rolled out across Europe and America, and it will be the most popular adventure story of our time.

Charles Garnier nodded: "That's good. I can't wait to see people strolling through this dreamlike paradise..."

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Throughout April and May, Lionel was working intensively on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, but he changed his strategy for this film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest will no longer be serialized in newspapers, but will be published only as a "serialized picture book," one issue per week, with twenty-four pages per issue.

He rented a studio in Montmartre and had the painter Manuel Poiret move in with four painting assistants.

Subsequently, Lionel completely standardized the creative process.

Every Monday morning, Lionel would arrive at the studio with his completed script.

The script is very detailed, including not only dialogue and plot descriptions, but also storyboard sketches of key scenes, with annotations of camera angles and character positions.

Manuel Poiret and his assistants sat around a long table, listening to Lionel's explanation.

"On this page, Captain Jack Sparrow jumps off a cliff and falls into the sea. To convey the sense of falling, use many speed lines and blur the background."

"On the next page, he emerges from the sea, soaking wet, but still wearing his hat. His expression should be comical, yet with a hint of relief."

Manuel Poiret nodded and quickly jotted down notes in his notebook. He now dared not underestimate Lionel's "matchstick figures."

Although this great writer had virtually no foundation in painting, he possessed an astonishing intuition and creativity in using visuals to captivate readers.

His early "storyboard" and "dialogue bubbles" were already amazing enough, and recently he has brought us a brand new drawing method called "speed lines".

Poiret could never have imagined that drawing these dense hatches next to the figures would instantly elevate the tension and speed of the painting several notches.

Lionel, oblivious to Poiret's distraction, drew another circle on the storyboard sketch—

“The speech bubble is here. Jack said, ‘The sea is more fickle than a woman; at least a woman won’t suddenly swallow you up.’” The assistants laughed, and a young man named Jean said, “That sounds just like Captain Jack Sparrow.”

Lionel laughed too: "That's what he said."

After explaining, Lionel left, leaving the painting entirely to Poiret's team.

Poiret was responsible for the pencil sketches and composition, while two assistants handled the outlining, one for shading and the other for the background and effects. The division of labor was clear, and the efficiency was very high.

On Friday, Lionel would come back to review the manuscript, offering suggestions for revisions, pointing out areas where expressions were off, perspective issues, and bubble placement problems.

Poiret and his assistants revised the manuscript, finalized it before the weekend, and then sent it to "Charpentier's Bookshelf" to be handed over to the engraver.

This model quickly showed its advantages. Not only was the output stable, but the quality was also guaranteed, and Lionel was able to be relieved of the heavy workload of writing novels.

He finished the script for the next six months in just two months, April and May!
The first issue of "The Soul-Gathering Coffin" went on sale in early June and sold out immediately. Queues formed outside the bookstore, with children clutching their change and eagerly waiting for the next issue.

Newspapers began to publish reviews, some praising the improved drawing skills, some discussing the plot development, and others analyzing the commercial prospects of this creative model.

Many people have also noticed that newspapers and magazines in Paris and London have begun to feature similar “serialized picture books”.

Although these later works were not as exquisite as "Pirates of the Caribbean," they were more diverse in style, giving readers a brand new experience and choices.

The sudden emergence of a brand-new market has made the down-on-their-luck painters in these two cities extremely sought after, with everyone figuring out how to create "series picture books".

They meticulously studied every frame of "Pirates of the Caribbean," attempting to incorporate their own understanding and create their own story.

The "seventh art" has gradually transformed from a rather abstract theoretical term into a livelihood for many.

The professors at the École des Beaux-Arts in France are complaining that their students are no longer focused on how to paint well, but are instead taking on commissions from newspapers on the side...

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Lionel wasn't too concerned about any of that—he was busy preparing to go home for his sister Ivana's wedding to Marcel Dubois, which was scheduled for June 20th.

My father originally wanted to keep it simple, but Mayor Gapu and many local people were very enthusiastic and insisted on making it a grand affair.

The father was finding it difficult to cope and wrote to Lionel for his opinion.

Lionel replied that he could make it more grand, but he would not accept any fees or venue sponsorships from official or private sources.

At 3 p.m. on June 19, at the Gapoch train station, Lionel got off the train with his suitcase and froze as soon as he stepped onto the platform.

The platform was packed with people.

A small band of about ten people stood at the front, holding brass horns and drums, ready to go;
Two rows of girls dressed in traditional Alpine attire, holding bouquets, their beautiful eyes sparkling, eagerly awaited their arrival;

Dozens of children held up a banner that read, “Welcome home, Mr. Sorel, the Conscience of the Alps”;
There were also many more onlookers, numbering over a hundred, men, women, and children, crowding the small platform.

As soon as Lionel stepped down, the band began playing a cheerful welcoming tune.

A middle-aged man wearing a sash on his chest stepped forward, smiling broadly as he extended his hand: "Mr. Sorel! Welcome back to Gap! I am Mayor Emil Bouchard."

Lionel shook his hand: "Mr. Mayor, this... is a bit too formal..."

“Of course! Of course!” Mayor Bouchard shook his hand vigorously. “You are the pride of our Gap! Your sister’s wedding is a major event for the whole city!”

The girls began to come forward to present flowers, and Lionel's arms were instantly filled with several bouquets.

Children cheered, waving banners, and the band played even more enthusiastically. Citizens on the platform applauded, some shouting "Welcome back!" and others "Congratulations!"

Lionel was escorted out of the station. A four-wheeled carriage decorated with flowers was parked outside, with two white horses saddled and bridled, their heads adorned with wreaths.

"Please get in the car." Mayor Bouchard personally opened the car door. "We'll take you home."

Lionel boarded the carriage. The mayor followed, and the carriage, surrounded by a band and a crowd, slowly drove toward Chestnut Street.

A large crowd stood on both sides of the street. People leaned out of windows and came out of shops, waving at the carriage.

The children ran alongside the carriage, their laughter and music mingling together.

Lionel felt a moment of disorientation, as if it wasn't his sister Ivana who was about to get married, but him.

Two years ago, he received a warm welcome upon his return to Larané, but on a much smaller scale; now, the scene is like welcoming a triumphant general.

Lionel said with a hint of helplessness, "Mr. Mayor, the wedding could actually be simpler..."

Mayor Bouchard immediately said, "Simple? That won't do! Your sister's wedding must be grand! This is not only a joyous occasion for your family, but also for our entire Gapu!"

He lowered his voice and leaned closer: "And... as you know, you predicted that Mr. Jules Ferry would form a new cabinet, and now it has come true."

Everyone says you have foresight and wisdom. Of course, we'll do our best to make your wedding a success.

As he spoke, a genuine sense of awe shone through his eyes.

(First update, thank you everyone, please vote with monthly tickets)

(End of this chapter)