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。本书是十九世纪英国著名批判现实主义作家狄更斯的又一巨著。小说描绘了资产阶级的唯利是图、工人群众的贫困和苦难，以及劳资的矛盾和斗争。作者以一种近乎漫画式的笔调出神入化地展示了一系列典型的人物性格。

在工业小城焦煤镇，人们被禁锢和奴役着，没有个人自由。所谓的“教育家”格拉德格林倡导一套窒息人性的教育方式，结果反而扼杀了自家儿女的天性。而焦煤镇的巨富庞得贝为维护“自我奋斗成功”的虚假形象，不惜抛弃生母，最终落得一个众叛亲离的下场。

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Stephen closed the door of Mr. Bounderby's house. With his eyes on theground he crossed the street. He was walking sadly away when he felt a hand onhis arm. It was a woman. She was tall and still straight, although she must havebeen very old. She was dressed very cleanly and plainly. Clearly she had come along way, for there was country dirt on her shoes.

"Pray, sir," said the old woman,"didn't I see you come out of that gentle-man's house?" pointing back to Mr. Bounderby's.

"Yes, madam," Stephen replied.

"Have you--you'll excuse an old woman's curiosity--have you seen thegentleman?"

"Yes, madam."

"And how did he look, sir? Was he strong and bold and proud?" As shestraightened her own figure, and held up her head in adapting her action to herwords, the idea crossed Stephen that he had seen this old woman before, and hadnot quite liked her.

"Oh yes," he said, "he was all that."

"And healthy," said the old woman, "as the fresh wind?"

"Yes," returned Stephen.

斯蒂芬合上庞德贝先生家的大门。他两眼盯着地上，穿过了那条街道。正当他忧心不已地走着的时候，一只手搭在了他的胳臂上。是一位妇人。她身形高大，虽已年迈，但腰板依然硬朗。很明显，她是长途跋涉来的，因为她的鞋上还沾着乡下的泥土。

“请原谅，先生，”老太婆说，“我刚看到的从这位绅士家里走出来的人是不是你?”她回头指着庞德贝先生家的房子。

“是的，老太太，”斯蒂芬回答说。

“你看见了——请你原谅一位老太婆的好奇心——你看见那位绅士了吗?”

“见到了，老太太。”

“他看起来怎么样，先生?他是不是又强壮、又魁梧，而且精力充沛呢?”当她昂首挺胸，以相应的姿势来配合她的话时，一个念头在斯蒂芬的脑海里一闪而过：他似乎以前就见过这位老太太，而且还不大喜欢她。

“噢，是的。”他说，“他一向如此。”

“而且，”老太婆说，“像清风一样健康吧?”

“是的。”斯蒂芬答道。

P86-87