Part 26 (1/2)
All in all, it's only the initial shock that counts. People get used to everything, everything that happens in the occupied zone: ma.s.sacres, persecution, organised pillaging, are like arrows shot into mire! . . . the mire of our hearts.
They're trying to make us believe we live in the age of the ”community,” when the individual must perish so that society may live, and we don't want to see that it is society that is dying so the tyrants can live.
This age that believes itself to be the age of the ”community” is more individualistic than the Renaissance or the era of the great feudal lords. Everything is happening as if there were a fixed amount of freedom and power in the world that is sometimes divided between millions of people and sometimes between one single person one single person and the other millions. ”Have my leftovers,” the dictators say. So please don't talk to me about the spirit of the community. I'm prepared to die but as a French citizen and I insist there be a valid reason for my death, and I, Jean-Marie Michaud, and the other millions. ”Have my leftovers,” the dictators say. So please don't talk to me about the spirit of the community. I'm prepared to die but as a French citizen and I insist there be a valid reason for my death, and I, Jean-Marie Michaud,*10 I am dying for P. Henriot and P. Laval and other lords, just as a chicken has its throat slit to be served to these traitors for dinner. And I maintain, yes, I do, that the chicken is worth more than the people who will eat it. I know that I am more intelligent, superior, more valuable where goodness is concerned than those men. They are strong but their strength is temporary and an illusion. It will be drained from them by time, defeat, the hand of fate, illness (as was the case with Napoleon). And everyone will be dumbfounded. ”But how?” people will say. ”They were the ones we were afraid of!” I will truly have a communal spirit if I defend my share and everyone else's share against their greed. The individual only has worth if he is sensitive to others, that goes without saying. But just so long as it is ”all other men” and not ”one man.” Dictators.h.i.+p is built around this confusion. Napoleon said he only desired the greatness of France, but he proclaimed to Metternich, I am dying for P. Henriot and P. Laval and other lords, just as a chicken has its throat slit to be served to these traitors for dinner. And I maintain, yes, I do, that the chicken is worth more than the people who will eat it. I know that I am more intelligent, superior, more valuable where goodness is concerned than those men. They are strong but their strength is temporary and an illusion. It will be drained from them by time, defeat, the hand of fate, illness (as was the case with Napoleon). And everyone will be dumbfounded. ”But how?” people will say. ”They were the ones we were afraid of!” I will truly have a communal spirit if I defend my share and everyone else's share against their greed. The individual only has worth if he is sensitive to others, that goes without saying. But just so long as it is ”all other men” and not ”one man.” Dictators.h.i.+p is built around this confusion. Napoleon said he only desired the greatness of France, but he proclaimed to Metternich,*11 ”I don't give a d.a.m.n if millions of men live or die.” ”I don't give a d.a.m.n if millions of men live or die.”
Hitler: FOR STORM IN JUNE:.
What I need to have: 1An extremely detailed map of France or Michelin Guide 1An extremely detailed map of France or Michelin Guide 2The complete collection of several French and foreign newspapers between 1 June and 1 July 2The complete collection of several French and foreign newspapers between 1 June and 1 July 3A work on porcelain 3A work on porcelain 4June birds, their names and songs 4June birds, their names and songs 5A mystical book (belonging to the G.o.dfather) Father Brechard 5A mystical book (belonging to the G.o.dfather) Father Brechard
Comments on what's already been written: 1Will-He talks for too long. 1Will-He talks for too long. 2Death of the priest-schmaltzy. 2Death of the priest-schmaltzy. 3Nimes? Why not Toulouse which I know? 3Nimes? Why not Toulouse which I know? 4In general, not enough simplicity! 4In general, not enough simplicity!
[In Russian, Irene Nemirovsky added: ”in general, they are often characters who have too high a social standing.”]
April 1942. Need to have Storm, Dolce, Captivity Storm, Dolce, Captivity follow on from one another. Replace the Desjours farm by the Mounain farm. I want to place it in Montferroux. Dual advantage: links follow on from one another. Replace the Desjours farm by the Mounain farm. I want to place it in Montferroux. Dual advantage: links Storm Storm to to Dolce Dolce and cuts out what is unpleasant in the Desjours household. I must create something great and stop wondering if there's any point. and cuts out what is unpleasant in the Desjours household. I must create something great and stop wondering if there's any point.
Have no illusions: this is not for now. So mustn't hold back, must strike with a vengeance wherever I want.
For Captivity: Captivity: the changing att.i.tudes of Corte: national revolution, necessity of having a leader. Sacrifice (everyone agrees about the necessity of sacrifice just as long as it's your neighbour's), then the lapidary phrase the changing att.i.tudes of Corte: national revolution, necessity of having a leader. Sacrifice (everyone agrees about the necessity of sacrifice just as long as it's your neighbour's), then the lapidary phrase*12 which makes him famous, for in the beginning Corte is rather frowned upon: he takes an att.i.tude that is too French but he realises through subtle and menacing signs that this is not what he should do. Yes, he is patriotic but only afterwards: today the Rhine is flowing over the Ural mountains, he has a moment of hesitation but, after all, that is understandable given all the geographical fantasies which have become realities these past few years-the English border is at the Rhine and to top it all off the Maginot Line which makes him famous, for in the beginning Corte is rather frowned upon: he takes an att.i.tude that is too French but he realises through subtle and menacing signs that this is not what he should do. Yes, he is patriotic but only afterwards: today the Rhine is flowing over the Ural mountains, he has a moment of hesitation but, after all, that is understandable given all the geographical fantasies which have become realities these past few years-the English border is at the Rhine and to top it all off the Maginot Line*13 and the Siegfried Line and the Siegfried Line*14 are both in Russia, Horace's final creation ( are both in Russia, Horace's final creation (down him*15).
On L.:*16 It must be him because he is a crook. And in the times we are living in, a crook is worth more than an honest man. It must be him because he is a crook. And in the times we are living in, a crook is worth more than an honest man.
Captivity-keep it simple. Tell what happens to people and that's all.
Today, 24 April, a little calm for the first time in a very long time, convince yourself that the sequences in Storm, Storm, if I may say so, must be, are a masterpiece. Work on it tirelessly. if I may say so, must be, are a masterpiece. Work on it tirelessly.
Corte is one of those writers whose usefulness will become glaringly obvious in the years following the defeat; he has no equal when it comes to finding euphemisms to guard against disagreeable realities. E.g.: the French army was not beaten back, it withdrew! If people kiss the Germans' boots it is because they have a sense of reality. Having a communal spirit means h.o.a.rding food supplies for the exclusive use of the few.
I think I should replace the strawberries with forget-me-nots. It seems impossible to bring cherry trees in blossom and ripe strawberries together in the same season.
Find a way to link Lucile to Storm Storm. When the Michauds stop to rest one night during their journey, this oasis and the breakfast and everything that must seem so wonderful-the porcelain cups, the dewy roses in thick bouquets on the table (roses with black centres), the coffee pot giving off bluish steam etc.
Send up the so-called writers. E.g. A. C., the A. R. who wrote an article ”Is the Tristesse d'Olympio Tristesse d'Olympio*17 a masterpiece?” No one has ever sent up certain so-called writers like A. B. etc. (there is honour among thieves). a masterpiece?” No one has ever sent up certain so-called writers like A. B. etc. (there is honour among thieves).
To sum up, chapters already finished by 13 May 1942: (1) Arrival (2) Madeleine (3) Madeleine and her husband (4) vespers (5) the house (6) the Germans in the village (7) the private school (8) the garden and the Viscountess's visit (9) the kitchen (10) departure of Mme Angellier. First look at the Perrins' garden (11) the day it rains.
TO DO:.
(12) the German ill (13) the Maie woods (14) the Perrin ladies (15) the Perrins' garden (16) Madeleine's family (17) the Viscountess and Benoit (18) the denunciation? (19) the night (20) the catastrophe at Benoit's place (21) Madeleine at Lucile's house (22) the celebration at the lake (23) the de[parture].
Still to do: 12, half of 13, 16, 17, and the rest.
Madeleine at Lucile's house-Lucile in Mme Angellier's room-Lucile and the German-celebration at the lake-the departure.
FOR CAPTIVITY CAPTIVITY FOR THE CONCENTRATION CAMP THE BLASPHEMY OF THE BAPTISED JEWS ”MAY G.o.d FORGIVE US OUR TRESPa.s.sES AS WE FORGIVE YOU YOURS”-Obviously, martyrs would not have said that. FOR THE CONCENTRATION CAMP THE BLASPHEMY OF THE BAPTISED JEWS ”MAY G.o.d FORGIVE US OUR TRESPa.s.sES AS WE FORGIVE YOU YOURS”-Obviously, martyrs would not have said that.
To do it well, need to make 5 parts:
1 Storm Storm 2 Dolce Dolce 3 Captivity Captivity 4 Battles Battles?
5 Peace Peace?
General t.i.tle: Storm Storm or or Storms Storms and the first part could be called and the first part could be called s.h.i.+pwreck. s.h.i.+pwreck.
In spite of everything, the thing that links all these people together is our times, solely our times. Is that really enough? I mean: is this link sufficiently felt?
Therefore Benoit, after having killed (or trying to kill) Bonnet (for I still have to decide if it might not be better to let him live for the future), Benoit escapes; he first hides in the Maie woods, then, since Madeleine is afraid of being followed when she goes to bring him food, at Lucile's house. Finally, in Paris, at the Michauds' where Lucile sends him. Pursued, he escapes in time, but the Gestapo search the Michauds' house, find notes made by Jean-Marie for a future book, think they are political tracts and arrest him. He meets Hubert there [in prison] who had got himself arrested for some stupidity or other. Hubert would have no trouble getting out, because his powerful family who are total collaborators can pull strings, but out of childishness, his taste for adventure stories etc., he prefers risking his life by escaping with Jean-Marie. Benoit and his friends help them. Later, much later, because in the meantime Jean-Marie and Lucile have to fall in love, they escape and flee France. That should end Captivity Captivity and as I've already said: and as I've already said:
-Benoit
Communist -Jean-Marie
Middle cla.s.s
Jean-Marie dies heroically. But how? And what is heroism these days? Parallel to this death, must show the death of the German in Russia, the two full of sorrowful n.o.bility.