The story of Ivan Bunin "Sir from San Francisco" - reviews, descriptions and analysis

ABOUT "Mr. of San Francisco" Bunin reviews readers today are less likely to leave than the fashionable popular novels. However, many bestsellers after two three year after publication are forgotten. The work of a classic about which will go speech in today's article, interest in readers does not lose for more than a hundred years.

Story "Sir from San Francisco" the reviews deserved positive both in Europe and in America. Ivan Bunin raised questions that are always and everywhere topical.

about the author

In 1915 in Russia many people already knew the name of the author of the story "Sir from San Francisco". Reviews of critics about his work met, as a rule, laudatory, as evidenced by the two Pushkin Prizes. The first Bunin received in 1903. The second - in 1909-m.

Four years before the outbreak of World War Ithe writer traveled a lot. He also visited Egypt, Turkey, and Italy. New impressions have beneficially influenced creativity. In 1915, a story was published "Sir from San Francisco". Reviews positive left critics and readers, nevertheless the mood of the prose writer was cloudy, as his notes in his diary say. In 1916 Ivan Bunin wrote: "mental and spiritual dullness, literary infertility continues".

Abroad

After the revolution, many Russian writers had to emigrate. Among them was the author of the work "Sir from San Francisco". Reviews of his work in his homeland are increasinglythere were condemning. In the Soviet Union, his stories for many years, not that forbidden, but not recommended for reading. I could not even think of a prose writer who left his homeland in the 1920s, that in the school curriculum will come ever his book "Sir from San Francisco".

Reviews of Russian and Soviet writers about Bunin's works are rather contradictory. Gorky was associated with many years of communication. But then occurred the gap. With Nabokov at Bunin, relations were even more difficult. Some critics regard them as "poetic rivalry", others see in the work of these authors many similarities. By the way, in 1920 Bunin, being yet unfamiliar with Nabokov, sent him by mail a gift of his book "Sir from San Francisco". Finally, it is worth talking about this work. Why does it resonate with readers even today, in the 21st century?

Main character

Work on this story Bunin began in the summer of 1915. Initially, he planned to name the new work "Death on Capri". But changed his mind, as soon as he composed the first phrase. The story begins with the words: "Sir from San Francisco". Then, in the first paragraph, the author explains: the name of the American billionaire who went on a trip on a steamer, no one remembered.

Bunin did not endow his hero with the name intentionally. The American has no individual traits. He is a representative of the upper world, to the elite, to the richest people of their country. The gentleman from San Francisco worked all his life and was very successful. Probably, he owns several enterprises - the author mentions hired Chinese, which he writes to himself by the thousands. The American is 58 years old, but he has not yet begun to live. He had goals and worthy examples. Finally, he achieved everything, about than once dreamed of. And went on a long journey on a steamer under a symbolic name.

"Atlantis"

On a luxury steamboat reigns lie and hypocrisy. The American went on a journey not alone, but with his wife and daughter. is he gives out generous tip, stalking about the deck, dreaming about the upcoming rest in Naples. Every day is painted. He even rests on the strictly established plan. Same come and other passengers "Atlantis". Evenings, for example, are usually held in a bar: drink liqueurs, smoke Havana cigars, discuss politics.

On "Atlantis" There are no casual passengers - only the best and most famous. Attention attracts enamored couple: he dances only with her, in her eyes radiant happiness. True, in fact it's hired actors, which for good money depicts love.

The description of the society that gathered on the ship,Bunin pays much attention. The author does this in order to emphasize the facelessness, the uniformity of the representatives of the higher world. The gentleman from San Francisco, like the other rich men on "Atlantis", worked all his life and achieved his goal. But what was his purpose?

In Naples

All his life he held a in the delusion that you can buy everything for money. Not only expensive things and a voucher for a round-the-world trip, but also power, love, health, confidence in the future. He thought about profit for so long that he forgot how to enjoy life. The hero of Bunin's story is not able to appreciate beauty of nature, which opens to him in Naples. He is in anticipation of love, true, not at all disinterested, which he will receive from young Neapolitan women.

In the Italian city he admires not rare sights, but by myself. After all, he is so omnipotent, rich, that he can afford a luxurious vacation among people "of the very first grade". Probably, each representative of this varietythinks the same way. It takes only a few days, and the American tire Naples. The Italians, who smell of garlic, irritate him, the cloudy weather oppresses. In fact, he did not need a trip. He went to the Old World only because all the people of his circle are doing this, having made a good fortune.

To Capri

On the island the weather is better than in Naples. The family from San Francisco arrives at the most expensive hotel, where they are allocated the most beautiful maid, the most helpful servant. The American has the best. But suddenly his heart stops. He dies and within a few minutes of a rich and respected gentleman turns into a burdensome body.

The gentleman from San Francisco is immediately ranked as the farthest and cheapest number. The owner of the hotel with the widow and daughter of the deceased is no longer ceremonious, realizing that they will not get much money from them. The rest of the guests seem offended: they paid a lot of money for rest, and suddenly they were so tactfully reminded of death. The evening is ruined. None of the representatives of the upper world, belonging to to which so proud of the hero, did not imbue either him or his family with pity.

Bunin's story in Soviet times

The work entered the school curriculum yet before the collapse of the USSR. The main character is an American, a capitalist. For many years he exploited and robbed the working people. An absurd sudden death, which did not arouse pity from others, - just punishment. Today, capitalists do not feel contempt for our country. But the story, as well as before, finds feedback from readers. What is the universality of this work?

Reviews of modern readers

Bunin's Story - this is not a criticism of bourgeois society. The story that happened to the gentleman from San Francisco can happen to every person, regardless of social and financial situation. After all, this story is not about a rich man, but about a person who is in a soulless, deceitful world.

The hero of Bunin is surrounded by vulgarity, hypocrisy. But he does not notice all this, because he admires his own person - he is rich and everything is permissible to him. So can reason and a person with an averagematerial prosperity, but, for example, made a good career. Gentlemen from San Francisco live not only in the US, but also in Russia. Not only at the beginning of the 20th century, but today.