在元化先生晚年,我每过一段时间都会去他的住处探望。元化先生学养深厚,阅历丰富,见识渊博,又爱聊天,每次去都是听他讲:当下时事,文坛旧闻,想到哪里说到哪里。常常会谈到的一个话题,是关于书。那几年,他每年都出几本书。他对书的要求非常高,从封面设计,到内页的版式,到书的整体装帧,都一丝不苟,事必躬亲。 In Mr. Yuanhua’s later years, I visited his accommodation every once in a while. Mr. Yuanhua is a highly educated, experienced and knowledgeable, and loves to chat. Every time he goes to listen to him: current affairs, literary old news, where to think of where. One of the topics that often comes up is about books. In those years, he is out of a few books each year. His request for books is very high, from the cover design, layout to the inside page, to the book’s overall frame, are meticulous, benevolent.