《道林.格雷的画像》是一部哥德式的恐怖小说,也是奥斯卡•王尔德唯一问世的小说。1890年,这部小说首次刊登于月刊,旋即受到挞伐。王尔德后来作了大幅的改写,新改写的故事于1891年以小说的形式发行,但同样再次招致批评,当时并引爆了王尔德个人的丑闻。王尔德的夫人曾说:「打从奥斯卡写了《道林.格雷》之后,就没有人要跟我们打交道了。」知名书店W.H. Smiths拒卖这本书;不过尽管饱受争议,这本书仍然畅销。
奥斯卡.王尔德是一位成功的剧作家,《道林.格雷的画像》的写作风格更像戏剧而非小说,小说的对白多于叙述,并集中于三位主要人物之间的机智对话。小说中,主人翁道林.格雷是一位青春貌美的青年,一位画家为他画了一幅出色的肖像画,之后他受到友人的怂恿,人生的态度丕变,转而追求享乐主义的生活。崇尚美与享乐的空虚生命,是小说主要的主题之一。
故事就由「道林.格雷的画像」开场,这部小说始于此,亦终于此。一幅俊美的肖像画,到底隐藏了什么样的秘密?放荡的生活、数条的人命,究竟是什么样的堕落人生?青春与美貌、良心与罪恶、天堂与地狱,何处是人性价值的光芒闪耀之处?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a gothic horror story, and it is the only published novel written by Oscar Wilde. When it first appeared in a monthly magazine in 1890, it was criticized. Wilde then made a lot of changes to the story. The new story was published as a novel in 1891. Again, it was criticized, and it caused scandal at the time. Wilde’s wife, Constance said, ”Since Oscar wrote Dorian Gray no one will speak to us.” W.H. Smiths, the famous bookseller, refused to sell the book, but despite the controversy, it was still very popular.
Oscar Wilde was a successful playwright and The Picture of Dorian Gray is written more in the style of a play than a novel. There is more dialogue than description and the novel focuses on the witty conversations between its three main characters: Basil Hallward, the artist, Lord Henry Wotton, his wealthy friend, and Dorian Gray, a handsome young man.
One of the main themes of the novel is the emptiness of worshipping beauty and pleasure. Life, Lord Henry Wotton says in the novel, should be lived for beauty and pleasure and not for duty. He encourages Dorian Gray to enjoy himself. He tells Dorian he should make the most of his youth and beauty before they fade. Dorian Gray takes his advice and leads a selfish, hedonistic life. In the end, he realizes his mistake but it is too late. He has destroyed his soul. The novel has always been very popular and thirteen film versions of it have been made to date. Marvel Comics made an illustrated adaptation of the novel in 2007.
【Helbling文学读本(Helbling Readers)简介】 共出版十余本,分两大套:
● Helbling Classics(经典英文文学改写)
● Helbling Fiction(当代原创英文小说)
《Helbling文学读本》为一套最优质的英文分级阅读读本,英语难易度由初级衔接到中级。在各项英语认证考试中,本系列书培养的英语能力级数如下:
GEPT英检 | TOEIC多益 | TOEFL iBT托福 | IELTS雅思 |
中级 | 550 | 57-86 | 4.5 |
全系列皆随书附赠全文朗读MP3。
内文编排精美,採用彩色印刷,全文穿插精美插图,单元设计丰富。
除了精彩的小说之外,另编写有:
1. About the Author(作者简介):介绍作者,帮助认识创作背景。
2. About the Book(本书简介):介绍故事内容概要,帮助了解故事的背景与旨意。
3. Before Reading(阅前活动):设计各种问题和活动,帮助暖身,启发各种探讨与学习。
4. After Reading(阅后练习):设计各种深入的问题和题目练习,帮助复习内容,加深英语的学习印象。
5. Test(测验):有些读本在阅毕之后,设计有各种测验题目,包括文意测验和英语练习等。
6. Translation(中译):完整的英文故事翻译,帮助理解文意。
7. Answer Key(解答):针对「阅前活动」、「阅后练习」和「测验」,提供解答。
8. 随文讨论:在故事行文中,另设计有针对内文情节的问题探讨,帮助做启发性的思考。
【本书录音採用英式发音】