The Shadow of Great Britain

697: Chapter 337 Press and Publication Review_2 697: Chapter 337 Press and Publication Review_2 However, as a concession, “Napoleonic Thoughts” were perpetually fixed in the supplement “The Economist” to ensure that, should problems arise, they could abandon the car and save the coachman without affecting the main business of the trendy literary “British”.

A single issue of “Napoleonic Thoughts” had already caused divisions within the “British”.

If they added the must-be-in-the-main-issue “Red and Black”, who knows if Mr.

Disraeli, riding high in Parliament and acting as the front line of anti-reform, would agree.

After all, the gentlemen of the Tory Party only knew Disraeli as a major shareholder and outstanding writer of the “British” but were unaware that “The Economist” was also published by the editorial department of the “British”.

But if “Red and Black” appeared on the main issue’s pages, Disraeli might as well have jumped directly into the Thames River.

Although Mr.

Disraeli often mentioned in private conversations with Arthur and others, “I would not write anything that undermines the overall measures for reform.”

Before he decided to join the Tory Party, he even attended a radical election campaign in High Wycombe.

However, once the versatile Disraeli met John Crook, a hard-line leader of the Tory Party and former Naval Minister at a banquet, he immediately published a booklet titled “Britain and France: Or a Cure for the Cabinet’s Beloved French Disease” that was anti-France and anti-Whig, eagerly inviting Crook to help rectify it.

After publishing the booklet, he shamelessly attributed an editor’s credit to Crook.

This behavior also paved the way for Disraeli to the Tory Party’s parliamentary seats.

With Crook’s help, he was frequently invited to attend internal meetings of the Tory Party at the White Club, where he met Mrs.

Sykes, and through her, made connections with the Earl of Lyndhurst.

Of course, everyone inside the “British” knew that this was just Disraeli’s performance urge taking over, so he began to enact his best half-true, half-false farce within the Tory Party.

But Disraeli was currently enjoying himself on stage.

If at this time the “British” brought out a copy of “Red and Black” and exposed his true self—

Disraeli would certainly have to endure another round of social death.

However, unlike the previous time when he published “Vivian Grey” anonymously, attacking his former partner and resulting in his social death in Britain’s literary circles, if Disraeli were to socially die in the political arena, no one believed he would have a chance to rise again anytime soon.

After all, everyone still vividly remembered the fate of the last traitor, Bernie Harrison.

Although Disraeli’s mistake wasn’t as severe, being ousted from the Tory Party was undoubtedly inevitable.

So, to publish “Red and Black”, first dealing with Disraeli was going to be difficult enough.

Secondly, if “Red and Black” simply flattered Napoleon, to the current Grey Cabinet, it would at most be a bit grating to hear.

But the problem lay in “Red and Black” also depicting many of the unsightly dirty dealings of high society.

Although it tells stories of France, for most of the world’s nations, it’s nearly a universally applicable tale if you just change the context.

Take, for instance, Julien seducing the mayor’s wife to further his ambitions while tutoring the mayor’s children.

Not to mention, isn’t the story of Mr.

Disraeli and Mrs.

Sykes just like that?

Thus, when the bigwigs realize reading a book is like looking in a mirror, it’s indeed challenging for them not to recall their own humble pasts.

No one wants to revisit their past deplorable acts, and at the same time, they certainly don’t want others to see them.

Because it would destroy their great and glorious image, letting those commoners they usually look down upon know that the bigwigs are just a bunch of upper-class hooligans.

The Great Dumas was daydreaming.

Suddenly, he heard Arthur taking a long breath.

“No matter how many times I read it, this book remains as fascinating as the first time I read it.

However, when I read it for the first time, I thought it was just a story.

But now, looking back, it truly qualifies as a piece of documentary literature.

Mr.

Stendhal is indeed the founder of critical realism.”

Great Dumas, holding his glass of wine and leaning on the table edge, said, “Critical realism, that’s a very apt term.

If ‘The Red and the Black’ could be published smoothly, perhaps you should write a separate literary review specifically discussing critical realism.”

Great Dumas might have seemed indifferent, but Arthur could tell from his half-full, untouched glass that the big man was actually quite worried.

Arthur spoke up, “Alexander, stop hiding it; it’s not like you.

A writer like you needs a forthright disposition, a fiery spirit.

If you forsake that nature and start imitating melancholy, I guarantee you’ll never again write works like ‘The Count of Monte Cristo.’

Great Dumas just rolled his eyes and downed his glass of wine, “If I could manage to write ‘The Red and the Black,’ I might indeed be happy to change my temper.”

Arthur frankly said, “You must also know the publishing difficulties of this book; it nearly strips down the entire upper class.

What’s more embarrassing is, if we publish it openly, it’s tantamount to letting them parade through the streets.”

“What’s so bad about that?” Great Dumas said, “Being unwilling to show it off can only mean they are not confident about their own stature.”

Arthur, smiling, nodded, “Alexander, you always manage to unveil the secrets.

I thought you had passed the age for speaking the truth.”

“Weren’t you the one who asked me to speak?” Great Dumas quipped, “Besides, I must emphasize, I am only 29 this year.”

Tennyson, upon hearing this, also came over holding Mitskevich’s poem: “Arthur, I know this request might be difficult for you, especially since you were shot by a Pole in Liverpool.

But, Mr.

Mitskevich’s ‘Ancestor Worship’ really shouldn’t be buried and lost to political bias.”

Arthur, seeing the two of them gather around, simply said, “What’s the rush?

I never said I wanted to bury these things.”

“Hm?”

Great Dumas raised an eyebrow, widened his eyes, and couldn’t help but let out a smile.

He slapped Arthur on the shoulders, his expression exhilarated, “Arthur!

My good lad!

I just knew it!

Street brawls, threats, insider trading, taking bribes — though all these are what you do, at the end of the day, you still can be a good cop!”

On hearing this, Arthur replied noncommittally, “Alexander, are you complimenting me?”

“Of course.

However, while the ‘Ancestor Worship’ might be a bit easier to deal with, how do you plan to explain to Benjamin that we intend to publish this ‘The Red and the Black’?”

“Why should I discuss it with Benjamin?”

“Hmm?” Tennyson, puzzled, said, “You…

you aren’t planning to bypass Benjamin, are you?

That…

that might not be good, he is, after all, one of our major shareholders, and also one of our main pillars!”

“No, Alfred, we won’t be publishing directly through the ‘British,’” Arthur replied.

“Then…

how do you plan to publish it?”

Arthur merely chuckled lightly and then stood up to make his announcement.

“My dear friends, you might not yet know this, but currently, the Home Office is considering revising the ‘Police Act of 1829.’

Tennyson, puzzled, said, “What does that have to do with us?”

However, Great Dumas was a bit more quick-witted than Tennyson as his eyes twinkled and he took a deep breath, “I think I’ve heard Officer Tom and the others mention this before.

It seems Scotland Yard might also be reorganized because of this, and the powers of senior officers might be redistributed…

Since you’re bringing this up now, could it be that your new authority includes…”

Arthur smiled and gently nodded, “Exactly.

After the reorganization of Scotland Yard, all work related to the prohibition and control of illegal publications in the Greater London area will be directly my responsibility.”