118 исторических миниатюр и 108 авторских текстов на 13 иностранных языках. Сборник

Characters: the Englishman, traveling around Europe - the idler, with scribbler's bents, with a mania on scientific greatness, not based anything. He is imitating the studying of languages for deception of people around. He is comically shipped in reading and idleness.

The story may be finished with some amusing episode: he confused the German publisher with a Belgian waiter: knowledge of the language turned out to be insufficient... May be added an absurd scene of expressions of love emotions by Buckle to the Frenchwoman - for the entourage.

The story of the famous writer M. under the title "Buckle" appears.

The public reads this satire. It is pleasant to her! These clever idlers much about themselves imagine!

They show arrogance! And it turns out that their self-conceit - a soap bubble: these are just some odd fellows ("jokers and dreamers"?) ... The audience is happy; satisfied and writer M. Popularity, royalties are growing.

There time passes, Henry Thomas Buckle publishes the two-volume monumental work - "History of Civilization in England".

What to do to the writer M.? To write, - for the sake of justice and decencies - at least short little story "Buckle and the Civilization"? Whether there will be enough education, mind, "knowledge of the person and his soul"? The public is already partly was fooled, the royalties were received.

And the outstanding writer M., suppose, has already died. But a hypothetical story "Buckle" appeared. And what with it (story) to do?

3. Not "overboard"

Bombard, not Simon (year 1884), but Alain ( year 1952) took a seat in a specially prepared rubber boat and and began a sea trip.

The project of transatlantic sea voyage, let's agree, looked strange.

This project, at first sight, is submitted a little motivated and absolutely unexpected. The person who has got medical education, not having experience and skills of ocean sailings (!) intends to cross the Mediterranean Sea (!?), and then and Atlantic Ocean (!!??) by the rubber boat (!!!???).

And to squeezing out the physiological liquid from fish (by droplets) for replenishment of a lack of fresh water.

(Swimming has taken place in 1952. Across the Mediterranean Sea Bombard floated with Jack Palmer; swimming across the Atlantic ocean Alain Bombard continued and made alone. The book about swimming has been published in 1953).

Alain Bombard is the person, who was motivated not the selfish, but all-humane interests. The man educated, strong-willed, with great ingenuity. He was constantly thinking of the family, the wife, the child.

It is enough to tell, that A. Bombard mastered many knowledge of navigation already during sea voyage(!!!). Voyage, made alone. Not always successfully. Have helped out an wide outlook, strategic thinking, helped out the qualities which are called on Latin as ingenium - that is, ability, ingenuity.

Neither the risk, nor diseases, nor loneliness torments, nor fear of death have stopped him.

Swimming comes to the end successfully. He publishes the book. In French-speaking Wikipedia are listed the books which author is Alain Bombard .

He not "overboard". He directs laboratory of private oceanographic institute in French riviera, he works at a post of the state secretary in the Ministry of environmental protection of France. From 1981 to 1994 participates as the member in activity of the European Parliament. He headed public organizations. He have died at the age of 80 years.

An interesting photograph of his face, was made close-up in the last years of his life. There are traces of physical withering, but dignity, optimism and courage are shining in the eyes.

He was distinguished by excellent health, although a suicide attempt took place after one of the unsuccessful tests in 1958 of rescue equipment.

4.Marseille. "The presentiment of the truth has concerned me."

Alain Bombard's book about solitary navigation across the Atlantic Ocean has details that may be difficult for the Russian-speaking reader to decipher completely, but which are attracting attention.

When Alain Bombard was preparing for the travel, French authorities opened a case against him in connection with the alleged illegal exit in the sea on an inflatable boat (even before the "main" navigation). The assistant prosecutor has spoken in court session:

"As the court knows, the accused came from Monaco. And from there not far to Marseilles. He's a cheerful joker: all this expedition exists only in his imagination".

("Residents of Marseilles in France are considered inveterate jokers and dreamers" - the note of the translator to Russian-language transfer. Monaco, I assume, it is perceived not only as the Oceanographic Museum, but also as the casino location. Assistant prosecutor's hint: "the joker plus the player equals the noisy adventurer"? The card sharper? The person without honor?).

(Several citations, following - from the book by Alain Bombard. Quotes belong to the different moments of the sea voyage of Alain Bombard; the sequence of citations corresponds to an placement in the book of the corresponding parts of the text).

"The light breeze has risen, and we began again to approach the westernmost tip of the island, to the Cape of Menorca. We know that if we manage to round this Cape, so approximately in mile to the South we are waited by small port of Ciutadella, our lifesaving shelter. (...) On the occasion of our arrival the big crowd has gathered. Ahead stood an elderly Spanish officer, whose eyes shone with the mind. Looking at our flag, he has addressed me. I hardly stood on feet, supported by two kind volunteers. A quick conversation started:

– You Frenchman?

– Yes.

– From where you have arrived?

– From France.

– You arrived using it?" He glanced at the "Heretic".

– Yes.

– From what port?

– Monte Carlo.

– The sir, in order that I have believed you ...

I showed the article from the newspaper, where it was reported about our forthcoming departure.