Summary "Sir from San Francisco" I.A. Bunin

In 1915, a short story by I.A. Bunin "Sir from San Francisco." When you read the name of the work, at once thoughts come of an exciting story, where a mysterious citizen from a distant country becomes the protagonist of amazing and somewhere dangerous events .... However, the plot of the story is far from the proposed options. Who is this man from San Francisco? The summary will help us understand. It is not difficult.

Passing the summary "Sir from San Francisco", it should be noted that the author, representing the main character, from the first lines as if warns the reader that no one remembered the name of this person, neither in Naples, nor in Capri. On the one hand, it seems surprising - it can not be that a man in whose life there were no defamatory acts, who has a good, strong family, a wife and daughter whose aspirations were directed to work and then to a well-deserved rest, could Not be remembered by others. But continuing to read the line after line, you understand that his life was so colorless and empty that, on the contrary, if someone remembered his name, it would be amazing. All his life he tried to work hard, but not to come to a deserved success, some unprecedented achievements and discoveries, and in the end - to the inner satisfaction that life was lived in vain, but to catch up with respected people and then To the end of their days to remain in the same pleasures and idle pleasures, as well as other "respectable" citizens. And then comes the long-awaited moment in his life when, it seemed, a lot had been done, and his condition approached the figure when he could afford to go on a long journey. And again, a journey through the ocean in his understanding is not new lands, not familiarity with another culture and distant traditions, but rather an indispensable attribute of the life of any rich man.

The protagonist, along with his wife and adult daughter, sits on the famous ship "Atlantis" and goes to the Old World. In his plans to visit the monuments of culture of Italy and Ancient Greece, participate in automobile and sailing races in Nice and Monte Carlo, enjoy the delights of young Neapolitan women and swim in the waters of the English islands, and acquaintance with the local exquisite society can bring considerable benefit both for him , And for his daughter - a girl for marriage ... And it seemed that nothing and no one could interfere with his plans - because he dreamed of this all his life.

Continuing the summary of "The Lord of San Francisco," we are transferred to a steamer that drives our hero and his family to Naples. Life on the ship, which resembles a real hotel with all the amenities and all kinds of entertainment, is measured. In the morning - an obligatory two-hour walk along the deck to whet your appetite, then - breakfast, after breakfast everyone looks through fresh newspapers, a walk again and a short rest under plaids in long armchairs on the deck ... The second breakfast is replaced by hot tea with biscuits, conversations by walks, and at the end Day comes the long-awaited moment, the real apotheosis of all - a dense dinner and an evening of dancing.

Soon a floating hotel arrives in Italy, and a citizen from San Francisco is at the epicenter of his dream come true: Naples, an expensive hotel, helpful staff, the same serene, luxurious lifestyle, breakfasts, lunches, dances, visits to cathedrals and museums ... But not Feels the pleasure of life, about which he dreamed: on the street it is constantly raining, the wind howls, and the endless despondency around. And the nameless person with his family decides to go to the island of Capri, where, as assured, sunny and warm. And again they are on a small steamer, sailing in the hope of finding that oasis in the desert to which they have been going so long. But terrible pitching, stormy wind and sea sickness do not bode well ...

Capri cordially greets the gentleman from San Francisco, but, as the protagonist himself notes, the pitiful shacks of fishermen on the coast cause only irritation and feelings far from the expected admiration. But, having arrived at the hotel, where he was met with all due honors and even more, the gentleman is sure that the annoying feelings are behind, and only pleasure and pleasure lie ahead. He prepares with all his pomposity for dinner, shaves, cleans, dresses a dress coat, ball shoes, fastens cufflinks ... Without waiting for his wife and daughter, he goes down to the cozy reading room, sits down, puts on his pince-nez, opens the newspaper ... And something terrible and unexpected happens in front of him His eyes are clouded, and he, all wriggling, falls to the floor ... Around the noise, surprised voices and cries, but they do not feel compassion and desire to help. No, more fear and disappointment that the evening is hopelessly spoiled, and maybe even have to leave the hotel.

The gentleman from San Francisco is transferred to a very small and raw room, where he soon dies. The women, running in horror, wife and daughter, no longer hear the servile and obsequious notes in the owner's voice, only irritation and displeasure from the fact that the reputation of the hotel can be forever ruined. He does not allow him to transfer his body to another room and refuses to help with the search for a coffin, offering in exchange a long box of bottles. That's how his protagonist spent his last night on Capri - a cold, musty room and a simple box. It would seem that this summary of "The Lord of San Francisco" is coming to an end. But do not rush, because in front, albeit small scenes, but the deepest, leading the reader to the most important ...

The next day, the wife, daughter and dead old man-as the author now calls him-go by steamer back to San Francisco. In concluding the short summary "Sir from San Francisco," you should certainly describe the same "Atlantis", on board which are the same idle faces, the same breakfasts and walks, and the same heroes .... But no one suspects, and no one is interested in what is happening in the soul of everyone present and who is hidden in a tarred coffin deep down in a dark, cold hold ...

In conclusion, I would like to say that if IA Bunin called his work differently, and, say, instead of "Sir from San Francisco" At this time you would read "Citizen of San Francisco", a summary, the main idea of the work would not change. The grayness, emptiness and aimlessness of existence lead only to one end - in the distant hold is a coffin not with a man, but with a body without a name ...