具体描述
内容简介
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." 作者简介
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. 精彩书摘
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.
迷雾之塔:失落的星图 作者: 伊莲娜·凡·德·维尔德 译者: 李明哲 出版社: 寰宇之声出版社 装帧: 精装 页数: 680页 --- 内容梗概: 《迷雾之塔:失落的星图》是一部宏大、史诗般的奇幻巨著,它带领读者深入一个名为“埃瑟瑞姆”的古老世界。这个世界被永恒的迷雾笼罩,传说中,迷雾是上古诸神沉睡时散发的叹息,既是生命的摇篮,也是文明的坟墓。故事的核心围绕着一个濒临灭亡的知识守护者家族——“星语者”展开,以及他们必须完成的一项不可能的任务:重绘失落的“天穹星图”,以驱散笼罩世界数千年的“永恒之蚀”。 故事的开端设定在“寂静之城”奥古斯特,这里是唯一还保留着古老文明微光的堡垒。主角是一位年轻的星语者学徒,名叫卡莱尔·凡恩。卡莱尔并非天生的英雄,他体弱多病,却拥有非凡的“星语天赋”——能够感知到宇宙中微弱的、失真的星光信号。他的导师,也是家族的最后一位智者,在一次尝试解读残缺星图时神秘失踪,只留下一个被古老符文封印的青铜罗盘和一句预言:“当群星沉默,血脉方能指引方向。” 卡莱尔被迫承担起重振星语者的使命。他必须离开奥古斯特的安全屏障,踏入危机四伏的迷雾荒原。迷雾中潜伏着各种畸变、被迷雾腐化的生物——“蚀影”,以及对古老知识怀有贪婪之心的各方势力。 第一卷:迷雾的低语与古老的盟约 卡莱尔的旅程始于对失踪导师留下的线索的追寻。他发现,要重绘星图,他需要收集三件传说中的“星界残片”:一滴凝固的星辰之泪、一卷记载着初生恒星轨迹的羊皮卷轴,以及一把能够穿透迷雾、直指天穹的“引路者之钥”。 在旅途中,卡莱尔结识了两个至关重要的伙伴: 1. 莉安娜·“灰刃”: 一位来自北方冰霜部族的游侠,她精通在迷雾中狩猎蚀影的技巧,性格坚韧、沉默寡言。她加入卡莱尔的队伍,是出于对古老契约的忠诚——她的祖先曾受星语者的庇护。 2. 泽菲尔: 一位被放逐的机械师,擅长修复和改造古代遗迹中的装置。他充满怀疑精神,是队伍中的理性声音,为卡莱尔提供了关键的技术支持,使他们能够激活一些沉睡已久的古代交通工具和防御系统。 他们的首次重大挑战是穿越“低语峡谷”,那里充满了幻象和时间错乱的区域。他们必须依靠莉安娜的追踪本能和卡莱尔对星图碎片的微弱感知,才得以幸存。在这里,他们发现第一个星界残片——“星辰之泪”,它并非实体,而是一种精神频率,必须通过特定的冥想仪式才能暂时稳定。 第二卷:帝国的阴影与遗忘的王权 随着卡莱尔的名声逐渐扩大,他们引起了“铁冠帝国”的注意。铁冠帝国是埃瑟瑞姆大陆上唯一拥有强大军事力量的组织,他们信奉“秩序高于一切”,并视所有无法被量化的“神秘学”为威胁。帝国高层,特别是冷酷的枢密大臣维拉克斯,坚信永恒之蚀是自然规律,试图阻止任何人试图改变现状,因为这会动摇他们基于“现状”建立起来的统治根基。 卡莱尔一行人潜入帝国图书馆的禁区,目的是获取关于“星图”的早期记录。在这次惊心动魄的潜入行动中,泽菲尔的机械天赋发挥了关键作用,他破解了帝国最先进的静音警报系统。他们发现,铁冠帝国拥有关于星图的知识,但这些知识被扭曲和篡改,以服务于帝国的“神授君权”理论。 在图书馆深处,他们遭遇了帝国的首席审判官,一场激烈的追逐战在堆满古籍的密道中展开。卡莱尔被迫首次使用他尚未完全掌握的星语力量——他短暂地“引燃”了周围环境中的微弱星光,制造出短暂的混乱,从而得以逃脱。这次经历让他意识到,他的力量不仅仅是感知,更可能是一种改变现实的潜能。 第三卷:群星的指引与禁忌之地 为了寻找第二块残片——记载着初生恒星轨迹的羊皮卷轴,卡莱尔必须前往被迷雾彻底吞噬的“寂静之海”的中心岛屿。据说,那是上古文明“埃洛斯”的首都所在地,也是星图绘制仪的原始核心。 在前往寂静之海的航行中,他们发现,迷雾并非简单的天气现象,它似乎具有一种有意识的“抵抗力”。他们遇到了一个神秘的、自称“守夜人”的群体。守夜人是古代星语者的仆从后裔,他们选择了与迷雾共存,并严格遵守“不干涉世界进程”的原则。 卡莱尔与守夜人的领袖进行了一场深入的哲学辩论。卡莱尔坚持认为,无知和停滞是比混乱更可怕的敌人,而守夜人则警告他,改变天空的秩序,可能会引来比迷雾更恐怖的存在——那些被星光遗弃的虚空之灵。 在守夜人的帮助下,卡莱尔最终找到了羊皮卷轴。卷轴上记录的并非恒星位置,而是“能量流向”,揭示了星图的真正作用——它不是一个地图,而是一个能量调节器。 第四卷:虚空之影与最后的抉择 集齐前两块残片后,卡莱尔明白了“引路者之钥”的真正含义:它不是一把物理的钥匙,而是激活星图核心所需的“纯粹意志”。而这意志,必须在“界限之巅”——埃瑟瑞姆大陆的最高峰,也就是星图仪的所在地——才能被唤醒。 此时,铁冠帝国已经全面出击,试图阻止卡莱尔完成他的计划。枢密大臣维拉克斯亲自率领精锐部队,他们相信,如果星图被激活,帝国对天象的控制权(他们通过伪造的星象来巩固统治)将会土崩瓦解。 在界限之巅,卡莱尔的团队遭遇了最终的考验。他们不仅要对抗帝国军,还要面对迷雾中最强大的存在——一个由数千年腐化力量凝聚而成的“蚀影之主”。 在激战中,莉安娜为了保护卡莱尔,身受重伤。泽菲尔则利用他对古代机械的理解,暂时将帝国军的攻势导向了火山活动区域。 卡莱尔独自面对巨大的蚀影之主,他明白,对抗这种实体,单纯的力量是无效的。他启动了星语天赋,不再试图“看”星图,而是将自己的意识融入到整个宇宙的能量网络中。他回忆起导师的教诲,理解了“血脉的指引”:他必须接受并整合所有知识——理性、经验、直觉和对失落的敬畏。 最终,他没有“绘制”星图,而是“成为了”星图。他利用集齐的三块残片(泪水的频率、能量流向的知识、以及坚定的意志),引导了被压制了数千年的纯净星光。这不是驱散迷雾,而是“校准”它——让埃瑟瑞姆世界重新与宇宙的真实脉动同步。 结局:黎明前的微光 当卡莱尔完成引导后,他精疲力尽地倒下。迷雾并未完全消散,但它不再是压抑的、腐蚀性的存在,而是变得透明、流动,如同清晨的薄雾。被压抑的星光终于穿透云层,照亮了大地。 铁冠帝国的统治因其谎言的根基动摇而瓦解。莉安娜幸存下来,而泽菲尔则开始重建被遗忘的古代科技。 卡莱尔没有成为国王或救世主,他重新回到了奥古斯特,成为新一代星语者的守护者。他知道,真正的觉醒并非一次性的事件,而是一个持续的过程。失落的星图被重置,但对宇宙的探索才刚刚开始。故事在埃瑟瑞姆大陆迎来了第一次清晰可见的日出中结束,预示着一个充满挑战但也充满真正希望的新时代的来临。 --- 主题探讨: 《迷雾之塔》深入探讨了知识的本质、秩序与混沌的辩证关系、以及面对未知恐惧时的勇气。它探讨了传统与进步之间的张力,并强调了真正强大的力量源于对历史的理解和对真理的持续追寻,而非盲目的权力垄断。本书的叙事结构复杂精巧,充满了失落的语言学、天文学的神秘符号,以及宏大的世界构建,为读者提供了一场关于信仰、科学与宿命的史诗级探索。