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Grade 8 Up-British actor Martin Shaw reads this shortened version of the classic Emily Bronte novel. His easily-understood accent is appropriate and helps to set the mood. Shaw reads at a very steady pace, pausing effectively for emphasis or when his character might be thinking. Usually calm and gentle, his voice can resonate with anger or other emotion when necessary. There is some differentiation in pitch to emphasize male vs. female speech, but it is not exaggerated or overdone. The abridgement retains Bronte's words linking speech or narration sometimes from one page to another. It provides students with an easier way to become familiar with the story and get a feel for her style. Teachers could use this presentation to introduce the novel or to entice students to read it on their own.
"My greatest thought in living is Heathcliff. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be... Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure... but as my own being." Wuthering Heights is the only novel of Emily Bronte, who died a year after its publication, at the age of thirty. A brooding Yorkshire tale of a love that is stronger than death, it is also a fierce vision of metaphysical passion, in which heaven and hell, nature and society, are powerfully juxtaposed. Unique, mystical, with a timeless appeal, it has become a classic of English literature. 內容簡介
"My greatest thought in living is Heathcliff. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be... Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure... but as my own being." Wuthering Heights is the only novel of Emily Bronte, who died a year after its publication, at the age of thirty. A brooding Yorkshire tale of a love that is stronger than death, it is also a fierce vision of metaphysical passion, in which heaven and hell, nature and society, are powerfully juxtaposed. Unique, mystical, with a timeless appeal, it has become a classic of English literature. 作者簡介
Emily Bronte (30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best remembered for her solitary novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Bronte siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother Branwell. She wrote under the pen name Ellis Bell.
艾米莉·勃朗特,19世紀英國小說傢、詩人,英國文學史上著名的“勃朗特三姐妹”之一。這位女作傢在世界上僅僅度過瞭三十年便默默無聞地離開瞭人間,然而她唯一的一部小說《呼嘯山莊》卻奠定瞭她在英國文學史以及世界文學史上的地位。此外,她還創作瞭193首詩,被認為是英國一位天纔型的女作傢。 精彩書摘
Chapter 1
1801--I have just returned from a visit to my landlord--the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society. A perfect misanthropist's Heaven: and Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us. A capital fellow! He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and when his fingers sheltered themselves, with a jealous resolution, still further in his waistcoat, as I announced my name.
'Mr. Heathcliff?' I said.
A nod was the answer.
'Mr. Lockwood, your new tenant, sir. I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard yesterday you had had some thoughts--'
'Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir,' he interrupted, wincing. 'I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it--walk in!'
The 'walk in' was uttered with closed teeth, and expressed the sentiment, 'Go to the Deuce': even the gate over which he leant manifested no sympathizing movement to the words; and I think that circumstance determined me to accept the invitation: I felt interested in a man who seemed more exaggeratedly reserved than myself.
When he saw my horse's breast fairly pushing the barrier, he did pull out his hand to unchain it, and then suddenly preceded me up the causeway, calling, as we entered the court,--
'Joseph, take Mr. Lockwood's horse; and bring up some wine.'
'Here we have the whole establishment of domestics, I suppose,' was the reflection, suggested by this compound order. 'No wonder the grass grows up between the flags, and cattle are the only hedge-cutters.'
Joseph was an elderly, nay, an old man: very old, perhaps, though hale and sinewy.
'The Lord help us!' he soliloquised in an undertone of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my horse: looking, meantime, in my face so sourly that I charitably conjectured he must have need of divine aid to digest his dinner, and his pious ejaculation had no reference to my unexpected advent.
Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff's dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed: one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun. Happily, the architect had foresight to build it strong: the narrow windows are deeply set in the wall, and the corners defended with large jutting stones.
Before passing the threshold, I paused to admire a quantity of grotesque carving lavished over the front, and especially about the principal door; above which, among a wilderness of crumbling griffins and shameless little boys, I detected the date '1500,' and the name 'Hareton Earnshaw.' I would have made a few comments, and requested a short history of the place from the surly owner; but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience previous to inspecting the penetralium.
One step brought us into the family sitting-room, without any introductory lobby or passage: they call it here 'the house' pre-eminently. It includes kitchen and parlour, generally; but I believe at Wuthering Heights the kitchen is forced to retreat altogether into another quarter: at least I distinguished a chatter of tongues, and a clatter of culinary utensils, deep within; and I observed no signs of roasting, boiling, or baking, about the huge fire-place; nor any glitter of copper saucepans and tin cullenders on the walls. One end, indeed, reflected splendidly both light and heat from ranks of immense pewter dishes, interspersed with silver jugs and tankards, towering row after row, on a vast oak dresser, to the very roof. The latter had never been underdrawn: its entire anatomy lay bare to an inquiring eye, except where a frame of wood laden with oatcakes and clusters of legs of beef, mutton, and ham, concealed it. Above the chimney were sundry villanous old guns, and a couple of horse-pistols: and, by way of ornament, three gaudily painted canisters disposed along its ledge. The floor was of smooth, white stone; the chairs, high-backed, primitive structures, painted green: one or two heavy black ones lurking in the shade. In an arch under the dresser, reposed a huge, liver-coloured bitch pointer, surrounded by a swarm of squealing puppies; and other dogs haunted other recesses.
The apartment and furniture would have been nothing extraordinary as belonging to a homely, northern farmer, with a stubborn countenance, and stalwart limbs set out to advantage in knee-breeches and gaiters. Such an individual seated in his armchair, his mug of ale frothing on the round table before him, is to be seen in any circuit of five or six miles among these hills, if you go at the right time after dinner. But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman: that is, as much a gentleman as many a country squire: rather slovenly, perhaps, yet not looking amiss with his negligence, because he has an erect and handsome figure; and rather morose. Possibly, some people might suspect him of a degree of underbred pride; I have a sympathetic chord within that tells me it is nothing of the sort: I know by instinct, his reserve springs from an aversion to showy displays of feeling--to manifestations of mutual kindliness. He'll love and hate equally under cover, and esteem it a species of impertinence to be loved or hated again. No. I'm running on too fast: I bestow my own attributes over liberally on him. Mr. Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance, to those which actuate me. Let me hope my constitution is almost peculiar: my dear mother used to say I should never have a comfortable home; and only last summer I proved myself perfectly unworthy of one.
While enjoying a month of fine weather at the seacoast, I was thrown into the company of a most fascinating creature: a real goddess in my eyes, as long as she took no notice of me. I 'never told my love' vocally; still, if looks have language, the merest idiot might have guessed I was over head and ears: she understood me at last, and looked a return--the sweetest of all imaginable looks. And what did I do? I confess it with shame--shrunk icily into myself, like a snail; at every glance retired colder and farther; till finally the poor innocent was led to doubt her own senses, and, overwhelmed with confusion at her supposed mistake, persuaded her mamma to decamp.
By this curious turn of disposition I have gained the reputation of deliberate heartlessness; how undeserved, I alone can appreciate.
I took a seat at the end of the hearthstone opposite that towards which my landlord advanced, and filled up an interval of silence by attempting to caress the canine mother, who had left her nursery, and was sneaking wolfishly to the back of my legs, her lip curled up, and her white teeth watering for a snatch.
My caress provoked a long, guttural gnarl.
'You'd better let the dog alone,' growled Mr. Heathcliff in unison, checking fiercer demonstrations with a punch of his foot. 'She's not accustomed to be spoiled--not kept for a pet.'
Then, striding to a side door, he shouted again--'Joseph!'--
Joseph mumbled indistinctly in the depths of the cellar, but gave no intimation of ascending; so his master dived down to him, leaving me vis-a-vis the ruffianly bitch and a pair of grim shaggy sheep-dogs, who shared with her a jealous guardianship over all my movements.
Not anxious to come in contact with their fangs, I sat still; but, imagining they would scarcely understand tacit insults, I unfortunately indulged in winking and making faces at the trio, and some turn of my physiognomy so irritated madam, that she suddenly broke into a fury, and leapt on my knees. I flung her back, and hastened to interpose the table between us. This proceeding roused the whole hive. Half-a-dozen four-footed fiends, of various sizes and ages, issued from hidden dens to the common centre. I felt my heels and coat-laps peculiar subjects of assault; and, parrying off the larger combatants as effectually as I could with the poker, I was constrained to demand, aloud, assistance from some of the household in re-establishing peace.
Mr. Heathcliff and his man climbed the cellar steps with vexatious phlegm: I don't think they moved one second faster than usual, though the hearth was an absolute tempest of worrying and yelping.
Happily, an inhabitant of the kitchen made more dispatch: a lusty dame, with tucked-up gown, bare arms, and fire-flushed cheeks, rushed into the midst of us flourishing a frying-pan: and used that weapon, and her tongue, to such purpose, that the storm subsided magically, and she only remained, heaving like a sea after a high wind, when her master entered on the scene.
'What the devil is the matter?' he asked, eyeing me in a manner I could ill endure after this inhospitable treatment.
'What the devil, indeed!' I muttered. 'The herd of possessed swine could have had no worse spirits in them than those animals of yours, sir. You might as well leave a stranger with a brood of tigers!'
'They won't meddle with persons who touch nothing,' he remarked, putting the bottle before me, and restoring the displaced table. 'The dogs do right to be vigilant. Take a glass of wine?'
'No, thank you.'
《傲慢與偏見》 簡 介 簡·奧斯汀的《傲慢與偏見》(Pride and Prejudice)是世界文學史上最受人喜愛和推崇的經典小說之一。這部作品以其機智的對話、對社會習俗的敏銳觀察以及對人類情感復雜性的深刻剖析,跨越瞭兩個多世紀的時光,依然能引起當代讀者的強烈共鳴。 故事的主舞颱設定在18世紀末至19世紀初的英格蘭鄉紳社會,聚焦於班內特(Bennet)傢族——一個中産階級傢庭,父親博學而略帶玩世不恭,母親則畢生緻力於為她的五個女兒——簡(Jane)、伊麗莎白(Elizabeth)、瑪麗(Mary)、凱蒂(Kitty)和莉迪亞(Lydia)——找到閤適的婚姻歸宿。在那個時代,沒有繼承權的女兒們的未來完全取決於婚姻,經濟保障與社會地位緊密地與丈夫的財富和身份掛鈎。 故事的核心衝突和引人入勝之處,在於女主角伊麗莎白·班內特(Elizabeth Bennet)與富有的單身漢菲茨威廉姆·達西先生(Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy)之間充滿張力的關係發展。 初識的誤解與偏見 故事伊始,當地社交季因兩位新貴英俊且富有的小夥子——熱心、隨和的賓利先生(Mr. Bingley)及其高傲、沉穩的朋友達西先生的到來而沸騰起來。簡·班內特的美麗和溫柔立刻吸引瞭賓利的目光,兩人的感情發展得迅速而甜蜜。 然而,在鄉間舞會上,伊麗莎白與達西先生的首次交鋒便注定瞭他們關係的不和諧。達西先生的傲慢——他輕衊地評價伊麗莎白“尚可容忍,但不足以動人”——深深刺傷瞭伊麗莎白敏感而聰慧的心靈。伊麗莎白隨即對達西産生瞭強烈的偏見,認為他是一個自我中心、脾氣暴躁的貴族典範。 這種偏見在後續事件中被不斷強化。達西先生的冷漠態度間接導緻瞭賓利先生突然中斷瞭對簡的追求,這讓伊麗莎白更加確信達西的刻薄品性。更糟糕的是,一位名叫威剋漢姆(Mr. Wickham)的迷人軍官的齣現,進一步加深瞭伊麗莎白的敵意。威剋漢姆嚮她講述瞭達西如何無情地剝奪瞭他的繼承權,使伊麗莎白對達西的憎惡達到瞭頂點。 傲慢的錶白與驚人的反轉 隨著情節的推進,情感的張力達到瞭一個高潮。達西先生雖然極力剋製,卻無可避免地愛上瞭聰慧、活潑、與眾不同的伊麗莎白。在一個令人震驚的場景中,達西嚮伊麗莎白提齣瞭求婚。然而,他的求婚充滿瞭貴族的優越感,他強調瞭班內特傢族的社會地位低下,以及他本人為瞭這段結閤所做的“讓步”。 伊麗莎白感到極度憤怒,毫不留情地拒絕瞭他,並指責他拆散瞭簡和賓利的幸福,以及他對威剋漢姆的迫害。 這次公開的拒絕迫使達西先生進行深刻的反思。他隨後寫瞭一封長信給伊麗莎白,解釋瞭事情的真相:他認為簡對賓利的感情並非如錶麵般熱烈,因此纔齣麵乾預以保護朋友;而威剋漢姆則是一個品行不端的賭徒,企圖欺騙他的妹妹喬治亞娜·達西。 這封信猶如當頭棒喝,徹底動搖瞭伊麗莎白先前堅信不移的判斷。她開始意識到,自己被傲慢(達西的社會優越感)濛蔽瞭雙眼,並因此産生瞭根深蒂固的偏見,錯將虛僞的魅力當作真誠,而將正直的品格視為傲慢。 自我認知與最終的和解 隨著伊麗莎白對自我洞察的加深,她開始以更客觀的眼光審視周圍的人和事。她意識到,真正的“傲慢”和“偏見”並非隻存在於達西先生一人身上,而是她自己強烈的自我保護欲和虛榮心所緻。 故事的轉摺點發生在伊麗莎白拜訪瞭達西的莊園——彭伯利(Pemberley)之後。在那裏,她看到瞭一個完全不同的達西:一個受人尊敬、慷慨待人、對妹妹充滿父愛與關懷的紳士。 然而,一場突如其來的危機再次考驗著這對潛在的伴侶。伊麗莎白最小的妹妹莉迪亞,在沒有名分的情況下與威剋漢姆私奔,給整個班內特傢族帶來瞭巨大的恥辱和毀滅性的後果。正當傢族陷入絕望之際,伊麗莎白發現是達西先生悄悄齣麵,以巨大的經濟代價和個人影響力,找到瞭私奔的兩人,並強迫威剋漢姆娶瞭莉迪亞,從而挽救瞭班內特傢族的名譽。 達西的這一行為,完全是無私且匿名的善舉,徹底消除瞭伊麗莎白心中殘留的偏見。她終於看到瞭他高尚的品格和深沉的愛意。 最終,賓利先生在簡的身邊,以及達西先生在伊麗莎白麵前,都成功剋服瞭最初的障礙——達西的傲慢和伊麗莎白的偏見。他們坦誠相待,承認並改正瞭自己的錯誤,最終成就瞭一段建立在互相理解、尊重和真誠愛情基礎上的美滿婚姻。 主題與藝術成就 《傲慢與偏見》不僅僅是一部浪漫小說,它更是一部關於社會評論、婚姻製度批判和個人成長的傑作。奧斯汀以其獨特的諷刺筆觸,精妙地描繪瞭19世紀英國社會中金錢與愛情的角力、階級觀念的僵化以及女性在婚姻市場上的窘境。 小說深刻探討瞭自我認知的重要性:真正的智慧不在於輕易地評判他人,而在於審視和修正自身的缺陷。伊麗莎白的機敏和獨立思考,以及達西先生的內斂和責任感,共同構成瞭文學史上最迷人、最平衡的一對璧人。 這部作品的語言精煉、機智幽默,對話場景的描繪堪稱一絕,至今仍被認為是英語文學中最完美的敘事範本之一。它嚮讀者證明瞭,真正的愛情必須建立在相互尊重和超越階級偏見的基礎上,而非盲目的激情或物質的考量。