Chapter 638 A Pearl on the Crown
The chairman of this year's jury is Umberto Eco, who won the Strega Prize in 1981 for his work "The Name of the Rose". He is not only a writer, but also holds many titles such as philosopher, semiotician, historian, literary critic, essayist, and theologian.
These titles were given to him by the European media. He was called a European public intellectual and was also hailed as the most dazzling Italian writer in the second half of the 20th century.
The award ceremony officially began, and the main members of the jury and all the shortlisted writers for this year's Strega Literary Award appeared. The camera flashes of the reporters in the audience flashed wildly, leaving a spot of light in front of the eyes of every writer facing the camera, completely blocking their vision.
Lin Weimin was arranged to stand in the middle of the five shortlisted writers. A Chinese writer was arranged to this position. Many reporters in the audience seemed to have a premonition and many cameras were focused on Lin Weimin.
After the appearance, Umberto Eco, the chairman of the jury, gave a speech. After his passionate speech, there was applause from the audience. Unfortunately, Lin Weimin didn't understand a word he heard and just clapped along.
Then, Lin Weimin saw Umberto Eco solemnly take out a piece of paper from his suit pocket and began to speak again. He thought he was going to present an award. At this time, the translator came up to the stage and whispered something in his ear. Only then did he realize that this was the Strega Children's Literature Award.
The Strega Prize was sponsored by the young businessman Guido Alberti, who provided a prize of 100,000 lire.
In the years that followed, the Strega Prize continued to develop, and the prize money became jointly provided by the Bellonci Foundation and the Strega Winery. Each winner of the Strega Prize will receive a prize of 20,000 liras.
This prize money is at a high level compared to other major literary awards in the world. Among the most influential literary awards, except for the Swedish Nobel Prize in Literature and the British Booker Prize in Literature, the Strega Prize has the highest prize money.
The Goncourt Prize is only awarded 50 francs, and the U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award has no prize money at all, reflecting that participation is what matters.
Compared to this, the Italian comrades are still kind!
While Lin Weimin was daydreaming, the Children's Literature Awards had already been presented.
After the winner of the Children's Literature Award walked down from the podium, Lin Weimin could feel that everyone on the stage became solemn, and the eyes of the many guests and reporters below the stage were also full of expectation.
Umberto Eco's voice was loud, but Lin Weimin could not understand a word he said. The translator behind him was trying to restore Umberto Eco's words.
"He used his genius creativity in the novel, turning a nearly dead subject into gold in a whimsical way that no one had ever tried before. Reading this novel is like appreciating a Chaplin comedy, with mixed feelings of sadness and joy, but it also deeply penetrates the brilliance of human nature and the cruelty of war.
This novel highlights the cheerful and optimistic character of the European people and is destined to become an indelible classic in European literature.
The most rare thing is that such a work describing the story of World War II in Europe was actually created by a Chinese writer.
Next, let us congratulate..."
While enjoying the attention of everyone, Lin Weimin was listening attentively to the words of the translator beside him.
The jury spoke highly of the winning works and made it clear to everyone present who would receive today’s awards.
Umberto Eco paused for a moment and shouted at the top of his voice: "Life is beautiful anyway, lengwomen!"
If the translator behind him hadn’t reminded him, Lin Weimin really thought that he was not the one who won the award.
As soon as Umberto Eco finished speaking, the audience burst into applause and the atmosphere was warm.
Lin Weimin was a little slow to react. He walked up and shook hands with Umberto Eco. The old man spoke to Lin Weimin enthusiastically, but unfortunately Lin Weimin didn't understand a word he said and could only smile at him.
In the end, it was Umberto Eco who switched to English and said "Congratulations", and Lin Weimin replied with a thank you.
Accepting the check for 20,000 liras and the Strega Literature Prize trophy, Lin Weimin showed a sincere smile on his face and showed the trophy and prize money to the reporters. The lights in the audience were flashing, the media were enthusiastically praising him, and the writers showed some envy.
At this moment, Lin Weimin was the envy of everyone.
He is the first Chinese winner of the Strega Prize in its 46-year history, the first writer to have two works shortlisted at the same time, and the youngest winner of the Strega Prize.
Without any effort, Lin Weimin broke three records of the Strega Prize. This not only provided topics of conversation for the guests present today, but also provided material for all reporters to shape the legendary nature of this year's Strega Prize.
In the future, when the world literary community and literature lovers talk about the Strega Prize, Lin Weimin is destined to be a name that cannot be avoided in this award.
After the applause and flashes, it was time for Lin Weimin to give his speech.
He looked calm and composed, with a warm smile on his face. He was steady and reserved, and finished his brief speech in a slow yet solemn tone.
The applause from the audience once again shook the museum. Many of them were literary practitioners and were familiar with Lin Weimin. Even if they didn't know him originally, they would know him very well after a little inquiry after the shortlist was announced.
Two National Book Critics Circle Awards and one Prix Goncourt, any one of these awards is a supreme honor for any writer.
Now that Lin Weimin has added another Strega Prize to his brilliant resume, the people in the audience seemed to have seen the rise of a world-class writer.
It is an honor for the Strega Prize to be the pearl in the crown of such a writer!
After his speech, Lin Weimin walked off the stage and accepted the congratulations and blessings from everyone present. Everyone was so curious and eager to explore about this Chinese writer who broke three records of the Strega Prize.
Roger Strauss patted Lin Weimin on the shoulder and said, "Lin, I'm afraid your novel will be a hot seller in Europe again this time."
Albert at the side laughed out loud. "Our publishing house has already prepared the waistbands. Now all of Lin's works in Italian bookstores have been replaced with brand new 'slim waist', 'Strega Prize winner's main work', 'youngest winner', 'the only writer shortlisted for two works at the same time'! These gimmicks will probably make us a lot of money!"
When a work wins an award, the person who is most happy, besides the author, is the publishing house.
In the literary world, every award is the best advertisement for a work.
Everyone gathered together chatting and laughing, and the atmosphere was joyful and peaceful.
No one noticed how the four writers who did not win the award left the stage. Winners take their place, and this is true even in the literary circle.
More than half an hour later, the guests left one after another, and Lin Weimin began to accept interviews from various Italian and European media under the arrangement of the jury.
We took a break halfway through the interview.
"Teacher Lin, congratulations!"
Several staff members who had been accompanying him congratulated Lin Weimin again. As Chinese, they were all proud that Lin Weimin was able to bring glory to the country overseas.
For this Strega Prize, Lin Weimin also met the two reporters from the New H Agency who interviewed him at the last Goncourt Prize ceremony, and was interviewed again.
They are reporters stationed at the Western European news bureau. Any major news happening in several countries here, including news related to China, cannot be separated from them.
"Thank you both for your hard work!"
After working for most of the day, the sun was about to set and there was a celebration dinner for the Strega Prize in the evening.
The dinner was held on the lawn outside Julia's villa. Many guests who had disappeared during Lin Weimin's interview in the afternoon appeared again at some point and sat leisurely chatting under the awning on the lawn outside.
The environment in the ancient Roman-style manor villa is elegant. People sit together in groups of three or four, and the atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant.
The Strega Prize is co-organized by the Bellonci Foundation and the jury, with sponsors including the Rome Chamber of Commerce, BPER Bank and Strega Winery.
The dinner was sumptuous and Lin Weimin was arranged to sit with several judges, with Albert and the translator beside him.
As the absolute protagonist of today's award ceremony, Lin Weimin was naturally the focus of the table.
In particular, the old comrade Umberto Eco frequently harassed Lin Weimin.
Umberto Eco was very fond of Jewish culture and claimed since he was young that he might have Jewish ancestry. He also particularly liked comedies and never tired of watching Chaplin's movies.
"Life is Beautiful Anyway" has almost all the elements that the old man likes, and he loves this work very much.
When the Strega Prize announced the list of twelve finalists and the list of the top five finalists, all finalist writers were required to be present, but because Lin Weimin was in China, he did not show up.
During the award ceremony, Umberto Eco finally caught up with Lin Weimin and couldn't help but talk to him about the process of writing the novel.
When Lin Weimin told me that he was inspired to write the novel while receiving the Prix Goncourt in France, Umberto Eco said, "Lin, our city of Rome has a long history. I'll take you around when I have time. Maybe you'll get some inspiration to write another work about Rome."
Lin Weimin smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Eco, please forgive me. The birth of "Life is Beautiful Anyway" is just a coincidence. If I have to write a novel every time I receive an award, I will be too busy."
Umberto Eco knew Lin Weimin's resume, and his award-winning experience was almost out of reach for many writers.
"Then you can't be partial to one and disparage the other!"
The two joked for a while, and Umberto Eco noticed that there were reporters taking pictures nearby.
He stood up and hugged Lin Weimin affectionately and took two photos. He also joked to the reporter: "Remember to use this photo for the headline tomorrow morning!"
Everyone around started laughing.
Lin Weimin smiled and said, "It's impossible to do it tomorrow morning. It will probably take two days. This is a reporter from our country's New H News Agency."
During the break in dinner, Lin Weimin ran to the side to chat with two reporters from Xinhua News Agency.
After the interviews were completed, Lin Weimin asked them why they were not in a hurry to send the materials, but was told that the text materials had already been sent back and they were left here to collect video materials.
CCTV plans to make a news feature on Lin Weimin's award, which requires a large amount of video material.
Lin Weimin's eyes widened in confusion.
You guys are making a special topic for me, and I don’t even know about it?
(End of this chapter)
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