对于广大英语学习者来说,掌握了基本词汇量,攻克了语法等难点,具备了一定的阅读能力,又有志于进一步提高自己的英语修养,从而对于英语能有更深入、更亲切的认知,那么广泛阅读,尤其是有选择地精读优秀的英美文学,可说是不二法门了。列夫·托尔斯泰是19世纪俄国最杰出的批判现实主义作家,公认的世界上最伟大的小说家之一,是文艺复兴以来唯一能挑战荷马、但丁、莎士比亚的伟大作家,与巴尔扎克一起被称为现实主义文学中两座最高、最辉煌的峰峦。本书是他的代表作,也是世界文学宝库中无双的精品,以其独特的拱门式结构和完美的艺术表现力,在俄国乃至世界文学史上占据着无可替代的地位。安娜的形象也被认为是文学领域至今未被超越的最美的女性形象之一。
托尔斯泰第二部里程碑式的长篇小说,创作于1873一1877年。作品由两条既平行又相互联系的线索构成:一条是安娜与卡列宁、伏伦斯基之间的家庭、婚姻和爱情纠葛;一条是列文和吉娣的爱情生活及列文进行的庄园改革。安娜是一个上流社会的贵妇人,年轻漂亮,追求个性解放和爱情自由,而她的丈夫却是一个性情冷漠的“官僚机器”。一次在车站上,安娜和年轻军官伏伦斯基邂逅,后者为她的美貌所吸引,拼命追求。最终安娜堕入情网,毅然抛夫别子和伏伦斯基同居。但对儿子的思念和周围环境的压力使她陷入痛苦和不安中,而且她逐渐发现伏伦斯基并非一个专情的理想人物。在相继失去儿子和精神上最后一根支柱——伏伦斯基后,经过一次和伏伦斯基的口角,安娜发现自己再也无法在这个虚伪的社会中生活下去,绝望之余,她选择了卧轨自杀。小说揭露了19世纪六七十年代俄罗斯上流社会的丑恶与虚伪,同时也表达了作者处在社会转型期时所进行的复杂的道德探索和思想探索。
Happy famihes are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
Everything had gone wrong in the Oblonsky's house. The wife had foundout about her husband's relationship with their French governess, and she hadannounced to her husband that she could not go on hving in the same housewith him. This situation had now lasted two days, and everyone in their housefelt unhappy, both family and servants. The wife did not leave her own rooms;the husband stayed away all days. The children ran around noisily, not knowingwhat to do; the English governess had quarrelled with the housekeeper, and hadwritten to a friend to ask for a new place for her; the head-cook had gone out;the kitchen maid and the coachman had given warning.
On the third morning at eight o'clock after the quarrel, Oblonsky woke upon the leather-covered sofa in his study. At first, he thought all is at peace. Thensuddenly, smile vanished from his face and he frowned.
"Oh dear, dear," he muttered, recalling what had happened with a heavyheart. "Yes, she will never forgive me! It's my entire fault--though I'm not toblame. What a tragedy!"
He remembered the very painful sensations caused him by this quarrel. At that moment, he came back from the theater, happy and content. And he saw his wife Dolly in her bedroom, holding the unlucky letter that revealed everything.
幸福的家庭都是相似的,不幸的家庭各有各的不幸。
奥勃朗斯基家里的一切事情都乱了。妻子发觉丈夫和他们家的法籍女家庭教师有暧昧关系,她向丈夫声明她不能再和他在一个屋子里住下去了。这佯的状态已过了两天,全家人和仆人都为此感到痛苦。妻子呆在她的房间里不出来,丈夫整天不在家。小孩子们吵吵嚷嚷,到处乱窜,无所事事;英籍女教师和女管家吵了架,给朋友写信让帮她找份新工作;厨师走掉了,厨娘和车夫也都不干了。
吵架后的第三天早上八点钟,奥勃朗斯基从他书房里的真皮沙发上醒来。起先,他觉得天下太平;突然,微笑从他的脸上消失了,他皱起了眉头。
“唉,唉!”他心情沉重地回想起发生的事情,叹息道,“是的,她永远不会原谅我了!这都是我的错——但也不能怪我。悲剧就在这里!”
他同想起引起争吵的那个最可怕的瞬问。当时,他心满意足地从剧场回来,发现他的妻子多莉在卧室里,手里拿着那封该死的让真相大白的信。
P2-3