This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. The Gide Collection (10-volume set), which compiles translations of the classic works of André Gide, the Nobel laureate in Literature and French writer, was recently launched at Peking University, showcasing the charm of French literature to readers with its rich content.

Throughout his life, Gide authored novels, plays, essays, prose, diaries, and letters, with major works including the novels The Immoralist, Strait Is the Gate, The Pastoral Symphony, The Counterfeiters, the plays King Candaules,Saül,Oedipus, and the prose poetry collection The Fruits of the Earth, among others. In 1947, Gide was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The reporter learned at the book launch held at Peking University that "The Gide Collection" (10-volume set) spans over 3.4 million words and includes almost all of Gide's significant works, encompassing novels, essays, plays, travelogues, biographies, and diaries, among various genres. Its publication is a comprehensive presentation of Gide's literary achievements and represents the efforts of several generations of Peking University translators.

Chen Ming, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Peking University, introduced that Peking University French scholars have made significant contributions to the translation of Gide and other French classics. The Gide Collection (10-volume set) widely includes classic translations of Gide's works in China since the 1980s, complementing previous editions with additional selections in drama and fiction, most of which were translated by Li Yumin, an alumnus of the French Department of the School of Foreign Languages at Peking University.

"Gide's works bridge the ancient and the modern, profoundly influencing the development of French literature and world literature," said Chen Binjie, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Huacheng Publishing House, the publisher. The newly released collection is a more comprehensive collation and supplement of the Chinese translations of Gide's life and works, and also a continuation and deepening of cultural exchanges between the two countries. "We look forward to a new chapter in cultural exchanges between the two countries, contributing to the diversity and inclusiveness of world culture and literature."

Li Yumin, now 85 years old and the editor-in-chief of The Gide Collection (10-volume set), is passionate about translation. Having dedicated over forty years to the translation of French literature, this contemporary Chinese literary translator has translated over 30 million words. At the launch, he also recalled his unforgettable experience of saving money to buy 200 French books during his youth when he studied abroad.

"It was Peking University that gave me the dream of engaging in literary translation," he said. "Literary translation for me is both a job, an ideal, and an interest. I enjoy it and have lived a fulfilling life with it."