Long live ficus! (1936) a bitter, ironic novel, largely autobiographical The main character is Gordon Comstock, an unrecognized poet, a loser writer, forced to serve in an advertising agency to earn a living. He has a real talent for composing slogans, but his work disgusts him, it seems a caricature of literary creativity. He despises the material values and vulgarity of everyday life, the symbol of which becomes the ficus on the window. In all his failures, he blames money, but proud poverty only leads him into the depths of depression... Comstock needs to understand that in addition to high art, there are simple joys, and there is nothing shameful in the desire to earn money. What will save him? Translated by Vera Domiteeva