First Attempts

           WhenGeorgesDuroyreachedthestreet,hehesitatedastowhatheshoulddo.Hefeltinclinedtostrollalong,dreamingofthefutureandinhalingthesoftnightair;butthethoughtoftheseriesofarticlesorderedbyM.Walteroccurredtohim,andhedecidedtoreturnhomeatonceandbeginwork.HewalkedrapidlyalonguntilhecametoRueBoursault.Thetenementinwhichhelivedwasoccupiedbytwentyfamilies—familiesofworkingmen—andashemountedthestaircaseheexperiencedasensationofdisgustandadesiretoliveaswealthymendo.Duroy’sroomwasonthefifthfloor.Heenteredit,openedhiswindow,andlookedout:theviewwasanythingbutprepossessing.

           Heturnedaway,thinking:"Thiswon’tdo.Imustgotowork."Soheplacedhislightuponthetableandbegantowrite.Hedippedhispenintotheinkandwroteattheheadofhispaperinaboldhand:"SouvenirsofaSoldierinAfrica."Thenhecastaboutforthefirstphrase.Herestedhisheaduponhishandandstaredattheblanksheetbeforehim.Whatshouldhesay?Suddenlyhethought:"Imustbeginwithmydeparture,"andhewrote:"In1874,aboutthefifteenthofMay,whenexhaustedFrancewasrecruitingafterthecatastropheoftheterribleyears—"Herehestoppedshort,notknowinghowtointroducehissubject.Afterafewminutes’reflection,hedecidedtolayasidethatpageuntilthefollowingday,andtowriteadescriptionofAlgiers.Hebegan:"Algiersisaverycleancity—"buthecouldnotcontinue.