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