Read excerpts from Mao Mu's biography.

1955, a newspaper was interviewing Somerset Mao Mu, who was 8 1 year old at that time, and asked him if he liked others to write his biography. No, he didn't. In his view, this is a meaningless practice. He disdainfully said: "The life of a modern writer is boring, and my own life must be boring ... [and] I don't like to be associated with boredom." In fact, he doesn't have to worry about this at all. Just like this sentence in the interview, insincerity may be a bit; Boring, but not at all. Somerset Mao Mu lived over 90 years. In his long life, he spent most of his time as a world-renowned great writer. Those excellent short stories and novels are respected all over the world, and the most famous novel, Chains of Life, has been one of the most widely read literary works in the 20th century. His books have been translated into almost all the known languages in the world, and sold for hundreds of millions, which brought him fame and great wealth. For nearly 40 years, Mao Mu has been photographed, videotaped and written in his luxurious villa in the south of France, and the public seems to know this legendary figure like the back of his hand. However, since he was a teenager, Mao Mu has kept other private secrets about his personal life and career, which he didn't want to reveal. Mao Mu did live a multi-secret life: in the era when homosexuality was illegal, he was gay; During the two world wars, he worked for British intelligence agencies, sometimes at great personal risk; As a novelist, he spent a lot of personal time in the imaginary world. For him, the characters there are often more real than the men and women in the outside world. The stuttering in childhood made him more alienated, painful and sensitive. Stuttering also hindered his life. As an adult, he once took a sociable and cheerful young man (usually his lover, who contacted in advance and could stay behind the scenes). However, despite all kinds of complex defense mechanisms, Mao Mu's heart is still very fragile; He has a bad temper and is difficult to get along with. He can be kind and charming, but he can also be ruthless. Despite numerous successes, he never found what he really wanted. An unhappy marriage ruined his life for many years, and the love of his life never responded to his feelings.

Money can keep his artistic creation independent, free from chores, go wherever he wants, and let him live a luxurious life of his own choice; More importantly, for a person who has no sense of security since childhood, economic security is a vital substitute. Mao Mu's works, letters and conversations often involve money, which shows his interest in this subject. "After dinner with Willie," said the writer Beverly Nickalls, "you sometimes feel like a stockbroker.

In the home of Madame Saint Helia in Portland Square, Mao Mu met only two literary giants, Edith Wharton and Thomas Hardy. This is a cold meal for Mrs Wharton, and Mao Mu is taken upstairs to meet her. Dressed in exquisite clothes and domineering, she gave Mao Mu a 20-minute speech with elegant themes. Mao Mu was at a loss by her and finally asked a question about the thriller novelist edgar wallace. Mrs. Wharton looked at him in disgust.

Wilde once declared: "No one has the right to condemn another person's behavior. Everyone should go his own way, go anywhere he chooses and live in the way he chooses. " Mao Mu agrees with this sentence very much, and returns to this theme repeatedly in his works, although he can't completely follow it in his life. The exposure of Wilde's homosexual tendencies and the terrible consequences of homelessness, displacement and notoriety left a deep impression on Mao Mu. He inevitably saw the similarities between himself and Wilde. Wilde's tragedy troubled him, Wilde's personality fascinated him, and Wilde's social circle and literary world also attracted him. Many people in Wilde's circle attended the dinner at the Ritz Hotel, and several of them later became important friends of Mao Mu.

This is how the spectacle of one person performing four plays at the same time in the West Side happened. Except Explorer, which is not ideal (only 48 scenes), the other three films have quite a few performances: Mrs. Frederic 422, Jack Walk 32 1, and Mrs. Dot 272. Recalling this period of time, Mao Mu was quite proud: "It was really an unexpected great success." His name and title of the play-called "Mao Mu's Four Plays"-can be seen everywhere. Walter Payne saw two horse races named "Mrs. Frederic" and "Mrs. Dot" while reading sports newspapers. Mao Mu said, "At that time, many people contacted me for filming and interviews, and celebrities came to make friends with me." He also said: "I am very happy." ... max beerbohm named Somerset Mao Mu "Person of the Year" in Saturday Review ... His name is a household name, even in those families who regard drama as unclean. Max also boldly imagined: since there are four, why can't there be a fifth? His exact words were: "Five plays are staged at the same time! What a shock! ..... But there are so many theaters, so what is five? Why can't every theater in London play Mao Mu? "

At that time, there was an English writer in Mexico, and his reaction was quite different from that of Mao Mu. The land and people of Mexico have brought strong inspiration to Lawrence. Not long ago, he and his wife Frida came to Mexico City, accompanied by a friend of the couple, the sister of Sylvia Brett, the wife of Sarawak, and the painter Dorothy Brett. Lawrence had never seen Mao Mu before, but when he heard that he was in town, he wrote him a polite letter from the hotel. "Dear Somerset Mao Mu," he wrote, "you and I are both English literati. If two ships cross at night and are separated by a wide sea, it is really wrong. Can we have lunch together? If you have the will, telephone letters can be used. " Mao Mu sent a rejected telegram saying that he would go to Cuernavaca to write. Lawrence is famous for his thin skin. After receiving the letter, he was very unhappy and felt neglected. "Blind man, let his book go to hell ..." Four days later, 10/October 25th, Lawrence angrily wrote to his friend: "An' artist' who is narrow-minded and stutters ... without meeting him, there is nothing to lose: he is sour and nervous, for fear that he will not catch up with a Mexican masterpiece before Christmas"; He said jealously, "It seems that he can't write it!" "In June of 165438+ 10, Mao Mu went back to Mexico City for a few days before going to Yucatan Peninsula, and finally met Lawrence.

"For a time, [Celie] used her home as a showroom. When customers came, they saw something suitable and couldn't wait to move out, "she recalled. "To be honest, I am really surprised that (Mao Mu) can be polite in such a changing environment!" However, Celie once went too far. It was almost dinner that day, and Mao Mu came downstairs. "He found that the precious desk in the study was missing, and the documents and manuscripts were spread on another table ... Celie said happily," Dear, the new desk will come tomorrow, great! " I almost thought he was going to knock her down. He just said' Got it' and closed the door. This treated table has been with Mao Mu for more than twenty years, and he bought it when he moved into Chesfield Street. It is a good partner of Mao Mu and a part of Mao Mu's writing life. In his view, selling a desk is an incalculable atrocity. "He seems to accept it calmly," said Catherine Nasbit, "but I feel that there is a mass of anger in his heart, which is only coldly suppressed." He later said that he finally decided to end the marriage because the desk was sold. He always resented it until 1930 vented it in a despicable way in the novel "Have fun".

Mao Mu first met Churchill in Stoke Burgess. Churchill was the minister of Asquith government at that time, and had just married clementina hozier, the cousin of Dorothy Asusen. Mao Mu and Churchill often go to the nearby golf course together in the afternoon, and then return to the official residence to enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea, followed by a gorgeous formal dinner. One night, the lady had gone to bed, while the men changed into casual clothes, smoking cigars and drinking brandy while chatting. Young Churchill was full of confidence and gushed, but Mao Mu thought he was full of nonsense, so he put in a sentence and surprised Churchill. Mao Mu's witty remarks were extremely lethal, leaving Churchill speechless and everyone burst into laughter. The next morning, Churchill took the initiative to find Mao Mu, when Mao Mu was quietly reading the Sunday newspaper. "I want to make an agreement with you," he said. "You promise not to laugh at me, and I promise not to laugh at you."