具體描述
內容簡介
First published in 1899, this beautiful, brief novel so disturbed critics and the public that it was banished for decades afterward. Now widely read and admired, The Awakening has been hailed as an early vision of woman's emancipation. This sensuous book tells of a woman's abandonment of her family, her seduction, and her awakening to desires and passions that threated to consumer her. Originally entitled "A Solitary Soul," this portrait of twenty-eight-year-old Edna Pontellier is a landmark in American fiction, rooted firmly in the romantic tradition of Herman Melville and Emily Dickinson. Here, a woman in search of self-discovery turns away from convention and society, and toward the primal, from convention and society, and toward the primal, irresistibly attracted to nature and the sensesThe Awakening, Kate Chopin's last novel, has been praised by Edmund Wilson as "beautifully written." And Willa Cather described its style as "exquisite," "sensitive," and "iridescent." This edition of The Awakening also includes a selection of short stories by Kate Chopin.
"This seems to me a higher order of feminism than repeating the story of woman as victim... Kate Chopin gives her female protagonist the central role, normally reserved for Man, in a meditation on identity and culture, consciousness and art." 作者簡介
Kate Chopin (1850–1904) was born in St. Louis. She moved to Louisiana where she wrote two novels and numerous stories. Because The Awakening was widely condemned, publication of Chopin’s third story collection was cancelled. The Awakening was rediscovered by scholars in the 1960s and 1970s and is her best-known work. 精彩書摘
Chapter 1
A green and yellow parrot, which hung in a cage outside the door, kept repeating over and over:
"Allez vous-en! Allez vous-en! Sapristi! That's all right!"
He could speak a little Spanish, and also a language which nobody understood, unless it was the mockingbird that hung on the other side of the door, whistling his fluty notes out upon the breeze with maddening persistence.
Mr. Pontellier, unable to read his newspaper with any degree of comfort, arose with an expression and an exclamation of disgust. He walked down the gallery and across the narrow "bridges" which connected the Lebrun cottages one with the other. He had been seated before the door of the main house. The parrot and the mockingbird were the property of Madame Lebrun, and they had the right to make all the noise they wished. Mr. Pontellier had the privilege of quitting their society when they ceased to be entertaining.
He stopped before the door of his own cottage, which was the fourth one from the main building and next to the last. Seating himself in a wicker rocker which was there, he once more applied himself to the task of reading the newspaper. The day was Sunday, the paper was a day old. The Sunday papers had not yet reached Grand Isle. He was already acquainted with the market reports, and he glanced restlessly over the editorials and bits of news which he had not had time to read before quitting New Orleans the day before.
Mr. Pontellier wore eye-glasses. He was a man of forty, of medium height and rather slender build; he stooped a little. His hair was brown and straight, parted on one side. His beard was neatly and closely trimmed.
Once in a while he withdrew his glance from the newspaper and looked about him. There was more noise than ever over at the house. The main building was called "the house," to distinguish it from the cottages. The chattering and whistling birds were still at it. Two young girls, the Farival twins, were playing a duet from "Zanipa" upon the piano. Madame Lebrun was bustling in and out, giving orders in a high key to a yard-boy whenever she got inside the house, and directions in an equally high voice to a dining-room servant whenever she got outside. She was a fresh, pretty woman, clad always in white with elbow sleeves. Her starched skirts crinkled as she came and went. Farther down, before one of the cottages, a lady in black was walking demurely up and down, telling her beads. A good many persons of the pension had gone over to the Chênière Caminada in Beaudelet's lugger to hear mass. Some young people were out under the water-oaks playing croquet. Mr. Pontellier's two children were there -- sturdy little fellows of four and five. A quadroon nurse followed them about with a faraway, meditative air.
Mr. Pontellier finally fit a cigar and began to smoke, letting the paper drag idly from his hand. He fixed his gaze upon a white sunshade that was advancing at snail's pace from the beach. He could see it plainly between the gaunt trunks of the water-oaks and across the stretch of yellow camomile. The gulf looked far away, melting hazily into the blue of the horizon. The sunshade continued to approach slowly. Beneath its pink-lined shelter were his wife, Mrs. Pontellier, and young Robert Lebrun. When they reached the cottage, the two seated themselves with some appearance of fatigue upon the upper step of the porch, facing each other, each leaning against a supporting post.
"What folly! to bathe at such an hour in such heat!" exclaimed Mr. Pontellier. He himself had taken a plunge at daylight. That was why the morning seemed long to him.
"You are burnt beyond recognition," he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage. She held up her hands, strong, shapely hands, and surveyed them critically, drawing up her lawn' sleeves above the wrists. Looking at them reminded her of her rings, which she had given to her husband before leaving for the beach. She silently reached out to him, and he, understanding, took the rings from his vest pocket and dropped them into her open palm. She slipped them upon her fingers; then clasping her knees, she looked across at Robert and began to laugh. The rings sparkled upon her fingers. He sent back an answering smile.
"What is it?" asked Pontellier, looking lazily and amused from one to the other. It was some utter nonsense; some adventure out there in the water, and they both tried to relate it at once. It did not seem half so amusing when told. They realized this, and so did Mr. Pontellier. He yawned and stretched himself. Then he got up, saying he had half a mind to go over to Klein's hotel and play a game of billiards.
"Come go along, Lebrun," he proposed to Robert. But Robert admitted quite frankly that he preferred to stay where he was and talk to Mrs. Pontellier.
"Well, send him about his business when he bores you, Edna," instructed her husband as he prepared to leave.
"Here, take the umbrella," she exclaimed, holding it out to him. He accepted the sunshade, and lifting it over his head descended the steps and walked away.
"Coming back to dinner?" his wife called after him. He halted a moment and shrugged his shoulders. He felt in his vest pocket; there was a ten-dollar bill there. He did not know; perhaps he would return for the early dinner and perhaps he would not. It all depended upon the company which he found over at Klein's and the size of "the game." He did not say this, but she understood it, and laughed, nodding good-by to him.
Both children wanted to follow their father when they saw him starting out. He kissed them and promised to bring them back bonbons and peanuts.
迷霧之塔:失落的星圖 作者: 伊蓮娜·凡·德·維爾德 譯者: 李明哲 齣版社: 寰宇之聲齣版社 裝幀: 精裝 頁數: 680頁 --- 內容梗概: 《迷霧之塔:失落的星圖》是一部宏大、史詩般的奇幻巨著,它帶領讀者深入一個名為“埃瑟瑞姆”的古老世界。這個世界被永恒的迷霧籠罩,傳說中,迷霧是上古諸神沉睡時散發的嘆息,既是生命的搖籃,也是文明的墳墓。故事的核心圍繞著一個瀕臨滅亡的知識守護者傢族——“星語者”展開,以及他們必須完成的一項不可能的任務:重繪失落的“天穹星圖”,以驅散籠罩世界數韆年的“永恒之蝕”。 故事的開端設定在“寂靜之城”奧古斯特,這裏是唯一還保留著古老文明微光的堡壘。主角是一位年輕的星語者學徒,名叫卡萊爾·凡恩。卡萊爾並非天生的英雄,他體弱多病,卻擁有非凡的“星語天賦”——能夠感知到宇宙中微弱的、失真的星光信號。他的導師,也是傢族的最後一位智者,在一次嘗試解讀殘缺星圖時神秘失蹤,隻留下一個被古老符文封印的青銅羅盤和一句預言:“當群星沉默,血脈方能指引方嚮。” 卡萊爾被迫承擔起重振星語者的使命。他必須離開奧古斯特的安全屏障,踏入危機四伏的迷霧荒原。迷霧中潛伏著各種畸變、被迷霧腐化的生物——“蝕影”,以及對古老知識懷有貪婪之心的各方勢力。 第一捲:迷霧的低語與古老的盟約 卡萊爾的旅程始於對失蹤導師留下的綫索的追尋。他發現,要重繪星圖,他需要收集三件傳說中的“星界殘片”:一滴凝固的星辰之淚、一捲記載著初生恒星軌跡的羊皮捲軸,以及一把能夠穿透迷霧、直指天穹的“引路者之鑰”。 在旅途中,卡萊爾結識瞭兩個至關重要的夥伴: 1. 莉安娜·“灰刃”: 一位來自北方冰霜部族的遊俠,她精通在迷霧中狩獵蝕影的技巧,性格堅韌、沉默寡言。她加入卡萊爾的隊伍,是齣於對古老契約的忠誠——她的祖先曾受星語者的庇護。 2. 澤菲爾: 一位被放逐的機械師,擅長修復和改造古代遺跡中的裝置。他充滿懷疑精神,是隊伍中的理性聲音,為卡萊爾提供瞭關鍵的技術支持,使他們能夠激活一些沉睡已久的古代交通工具和防禦係統。 他們的首次重大挑戰是穿越“低語峽榖”,那裏充滿瞭幻象和時間錯亂的區域。他們必須依靠莉安娜的追蹤本能和卡萊爾對星圖碎片的微弱感知,纔得以幸存。在這裏,他們發現第一個星界殘片——“星辰之淚”,它並非實體,而是一種精神頻率,必須通過特定的冥想儀式纔能暫時穩定。 第二捲:帝國的陰影與遺忘的王權 隨著卡萊爾的名聲逐漸擴大,他們引起瞭“鐵冠帝國”的注意。鐵冠帝國是埃瑟瑞姆大陸上唯一擁有強大軍事力量的組織,他們信奉“秩序高於一切”,並視所有無法被量化的“神秘學”為威脅。帝國高層,特彆是冷酷的樞密大臣維拉剋斯,堅信永恒之蝕是自然規律,試圖阻止任何人試圖改變現狀,因為這會動搖他們基於“現狀”建立起來的統治根基。 卡萊爾一行人潛入帝國圖書館的禁區,目的是獲取關於“星圖”的早期記錄。在這次驚心動魄的潛入行動中,澤菲爾的機械天賦發揮瞭關鍵作用,他破解瞭帝國最先進的靜音警報係統。他們發現,鐵冠帝國擁有關於星圖的知識,但這些知識被扭麯和篡改,以服務於帝國的“神授君權”理論。 在圖書館深處,他們遭遇瞭帝國的首席審判官,一場激烈的追逐戰在堆滿古籍的密道中展開。卡萊爾被迫首次使用他尚未完全掌握的星語力量——他短暫地“引燃”瞭周圍環境中的微弱星光,製造齣短暫的混亂,從而得以逃脫。這次經曆讓他意識到,他的力量不僅僅是感知,更可能是一種改變現實的潛能。 第三捲:群星的指引與禁忌之地 為瞭尋找第二塊殘片——記載著初生恒星軌跡的羊皮捲軸,卡萊爾必須前往被迷霧徹底吞噬的“寂靜之海”的中心島嶼。據說,那是上古文明“埃洛斯”的首都所在地,也是星圖繪製儀的原始核心。 在前往寂靜之海的航行中,他們發現,迷霧並非簡單的天氣現象,它似乎具有一種有意識的“抵抗力”。他們遇到瞭一個神秘的、自稱“守夜人”的群體。守夜人是古代星語者的僕從後裔,他們選擇瞭與迷霧共存,並嚴格遵守“不乾涉世界進程”的原則。 卡萊爾與守夜人的領袖進行瞭一場深入的哲學辯論。卡萊爾堅持認為,無知和停滯是比混亂更可怕的敵人,而守夜人則警告他,改變天空的秩序,可能會引來比迷霧更恐怖的存在——那些被星光遺棄的虛空之靈。 在守夜人的幫助下,卡萊爾最終找到瞭羊皮捲軸。捲軸上記錄的並非恒星位置,而是“能量流嚮”,揭示瞭星圖的真正作用——它不是一個地圖,而是一個能量調節器。 第四捲:虛空之影與最後的抉擇 集齊前兩塊殘片後,卡萊爾明白瞭“引路者之鑰”的真正含義:它不是一把物理的鑰匙,而是激活星圖核心所需的“純粹意誌”。而這意誌,必須在“界限之巔”——埃瑟瑞姆大陸的最高峰,也就是星圖儀的所在地——纔能被喚醒。 此時,鐵冠帝國已經全麵齣擊,試圖阻止卡萊爾完成他的計劃。樞密大臣維拉剋斯親自率領精銳部隊,他們相信,如果星圖被激活,帝國對天象的控製權(他們通過僞造的星象來鞏固統治)將會土崩瓦解。 在界限之巔,卡萊爾的團隊遭遇瞭最終的考驗。他們不僅要對抗帝國軍,還要麵對迷霧中最強大的存在——一個由數韆年腐化力量凝聚而成的“蝕影之主”。 在激戰中,莉安娜為瞭保護卡萊爾,身受重傷。澤菲爾則利用他對古代機械的理解,暫時將帝國軍的攻勢導嚮瞭火山活動區域。 卡萊爾獨自麵對巨大的蝕影之主,他明白,對抗這種實體,單純的力量是無效的。他啓動瞭星語天賦,不再試圖“看”星圖,而是將自己的意識融入到整個宇宙的能量網絡中。他迴憶起導師的教誨,理解瞭“血脈的指引”:他必須接受並整閤所有知識——理性、經驗、直覺和對失落的敬畏。 最終,他沒有“繪製”星圖,而是“成為瞭”星圖。他利用集齊的三塊殘片(淚水的頻率、能量流嚮的知識、以及堅定的意誌),引導瞭被壓製瞭數韆年的純淨星光。這不是驅散迷霧,而是“校準”它——讓埃瑟瑞姆世界重新與宇宙的真實脈動同步。 結局:黎明前的微光 當卡萊爾完成引導後,他精疲力盡地倒下。迷霧並未完全消散,但它不再是壓抑的、腐蝕性的存在,而是變得透明、流動,如同清晨的薄霧。被壓抑的星光終於穿透雲層,照亮瞭大地。 鐵冠帝國的統治因其謊言的根基動搖而瓦解。莉安娜幸存下來,而澤菲爾則開始重建被遺忘的古代科技。 卡萊爾沒有成為國王或救世主,他重新迴到瞭奧古斯特,成為新一代星語者的守護者。他知道,真正的覺醒並非一次性的事件,而是一個持續的過程。失落的星圖被重置,但對宇宙的探索纔剛剛開始。故事在埃瑟瑞姆大陸迎來瞭第一次清晰可見的日齣中結束,預示著一個充滿挑戰但也充滿真正希望的新時代的來臨。 --- 主題探討: 《迷霧之塔》深入探討瞭知識的本質、秩序與混沌的辯證關係、以及麵對未知恐懼時的勇氣。它探討瞭傳統與進步之間的張力,並強調瞭真正強大的力量源於對曆史的理解和對真理的持續追尋,而非盲目的權力壟斷。本書的敘事結構復雜精巧,充滿瞭失落的語言學、天文學的神秘符號,以及宏大的世界構建,為讀者提供瞭一場關於信仰、科學與宿命的史詩級探索。