- 'It's clear,' - smiling, Pavlenkov has sighed. - 'It is necessary to address Gorky. About publication of the book, devoted Talleyrand's biography. In the Gorky's series "Life of Remarkable People".'

May 18, 2017

Translation from Russian into English: 22 November 2017 - 24 November 2017.

Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Сказка о Талейране'.

LVI. Salute to Alain Bombard!!! Or reduction onto Maupassant. Essay

1.Bombard and Pushkin

Main volume of information on Alain Bombard (October 27, 1924, Paris - July 19, 2005, Toulon) the Russian-speaking reader receives from book by Bombard 'За бортом по своей воле', Москва, 1959 - "Overboard [of the ship] according own will" ("Naufragé Volontaire", 1953; "The Voyage of the Heretique", 1953). Most likely, it is the only book by Alain Bombard published in Russian. The biographic articles which are posted in Internet add the information about Alain Bombard.

Judging by French-language article in Wikipedia, he was born in family of the engineer Gaston Bombard. Alain Bombard studied in Paris, has received medical specialty, was fond of the theme of survival of the shipwrecked (castaway). He has made attempts to prove that in the ocean shipwrecked (castaway) can provide themselves with water and food.

He have made a solo voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on the inflatable boat with receiving food and water (or water substitute) from natural sources.

Is known of Alain Bombard's life not so much prior to his single ocean journey.

He studied ... Mostly, in Paris.

He worked ... Initially by medical specialty in Boulogne-sur-Mer. Later, a researcher at the Monaco Institute of Oceanography [The Oceanographic Museum - a museum of marine sciences].

In his book "Overboard according own will" (alternative title of the Russian edition) he describes that he had to make a difficult choice: which books to take in journey. It is obvious that Alain Bombard well knew the literature, particularly French literature. And he read the story by Guy de Maupassant "Bombard".

Guy de Maupassant lived on much earlier, than Alain Bombard. Years of life of Maupassant: 1850-1893; he have died at the age of 42 years. The story "Bombard" has been published on October 28, 1884.

In 1953 the book by Alain Bombard under the name "Naufragé Volontaire" ("Voluntary Ship-wreck") was published in Paris (probably, a translation "Overboard according own will" also is possible, although, strictly speaking, being "overboard", it is difficult to cross the Atlantic Ocean).

1953 is a pleasant year for French literature: this year, in addition to the personage of 1884, two more Bombards appeared in French literature: (1) the author (several books - in the future) and (2) the character of the book "Naufragé Volontaire".

What happened between 1884 (the year of publication of the story "Bombard" by Maupassant) and the 1953 (the year of publication of the first book by Alain Bombard)? It's almost the seventy years!

The works by Guy de Maupassant were publishing and reading. Were living Gaston and Alain Bombards (the father and the son). It is quite possible that life more seniors Bombards also occurred in this period. I can assume that not only lifes of relatives of Alain Bombard were developing during this period, but also others Bombards: the surname of Bombard almost completely coincides with the French "bombarde" and the Italian "bombarda"; so in some sense - the French 'Bombard' is the Russian 'Pushkin'. [Пушка (cannon - bombard) - Pushka - Pushkin].

Bombards ... It sounds romantically! Middle Ages! In military operations the bombards were most considerably and are effectively presented approximately from the middle 1300 x years until the end of 1400 x years; further they were replaced by other types of guns.

The bombards were used on ships and at the siege of fortresses... The skilled craftsmen-armorers and masters of the gunfire were the most skillful, intellectual representatives of medieval society. Such qualities as the hardness and courage were required for direct participants of battles.

(In brackets we will note that "ENGINEER" (fr. ingenieur, from Latin ingenium - ability, ingenuity), originally - the name of the persons, were operating military mechanisms).

It is possible that someone from number of craftsmen-armorers, soldiers or military seamen, received surname "Bombard".

Bombards, as people cultural, since 1884 knew about existence of the literary personage 'Bombard', the person without honor, formed by Guy de Maupassant's creativity.

2.Henry Thomas Buckle and civilization

What kind of Bombard appeared under Guy de Maupassant's feather in 1884? The literary hero, created by Guy de Maupassant, is, - in general, - a satirical personage.

"Bombard of 1884" is uneducated weak-willed self-interested silly sexually anxious idler.

The story consists of the following elements:

the literary hero has a determination to to make almost anything "for ten thousand francs annuity" ("For ten thousand francs of annuity I'm willing to work as a hangman!" In other words, "Bombard of 1884" - a man without honor),

acquaintance of the hero with the rich Englishwoman (widow),

his marriage; financial security at the expense of the wife,

subsequent treasons to the wife,

the transforming into position under wife's heel

restriction by the wife of opportunities of treason (of husband),

attempts of the hero to fulfill the spouse's treasons at least with the ugly servantwoman, which isn't causing suspicions of the wife.

The story ends with the fact that a literary hero in the dark late at night in the hallway once again was cheating on his wife with the servantwoman. However it becomes clear in the morning that he dealt with own wife. In general, the hero is so primitive that even can not to cheat the wife, the wife dominates him, and forces him to have love affairs only with her.

The literary image of "Bombard of 1884" can be disputed even without knowledge of the fact that in 1953 Bombard, both as the seafarer and as the writer, has sparkled, like lightning.

"For ten thousand francs of a rent (dividends) I am ready to work as a hangman!"

And where the "hangman"? Married the attractive widow the Englishwoman? Well ... Not an "hangman".