不列颠多元文化研究：双城记

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth，England，on February 7，1812.The John Dickens was imprisoned for debt when Charles was ten years old.He then was left to look after himself and，with the help of a relative，found a job in a blacking warehouse.A fter fifteen he began working as a lawyer's office boy，studying shorthand and reading at the British Museum.From the year of 1831 when he became a leading reporter in Morning Chronicle，Dickens began his literature career.　　　　　

狄更斯于1812年2月7日出生在英格兰的朴次茅斯。他10岁的时候，父母因欠债入狱。那时他便开始自力更生，在一位亲戚的帮助下，他找到一份在鞋油作坊的工作。15岁时，他开始在一个律师事务所当勤杂员，在那里他自学速记并且利用空闲时间在大英博物馆阅读了大量书籍。1831年，狄更斯成为《晨报》的一名主要记者，从此开始了他的文学生涯。

Working hard in all his life，Dickens created nearly twenty novels.His main works are：Oliver Twist，1838，The Old Curiosity Shop，1841，Dombey and Son，1848，David Copperfield，1850，Hard Times，1854，A Tale of Two Cities，1859，Great Expectations，1861 and so on.He is particularly famous for his vivid comic characterizations and his forceful social criticism.

狄更斯一生刻苦勤勉，创作了近20部小说，主要作品有《雾都孤儿》（1838）、《老古玩店》（1841）、《董贝父子》（1848）、《大卫·科波菲尔》（1850）、《艰难时世》（1854）、《双城记》（1859）、《远大前程》（1861）等等。狄更斯以其作品中一个个鲜明生动的人物形象以及强烈的社会批判性而著称。

Plot：A Tale of Two Cities is a story happening in Paris and London before the French Revolution，Doctor Manette is kept in the Bastille for eight years because of his revealing St.Evremonde brothers' crime to the government.He is not released until Marquis St.Evremonde loses grace.

故事梗概：《双城记》讲述的是法国大革命前发生在巴黎和伦敦两个城市里的故事。一个名叫马奈特的外科医生因向政府揭发埃弗雷蒙贵族兄弟的罪行，被关押进巴士底监狱整整18年。直到后来埃弗雷蒙侯爵失宠，马奈特医生才获释出狱。

A fter his release，Doctor M anette lives with his daughter in London where Lucie meets a French young man named Charles Darnay without knowing that he is the nephew of Marquis St.Evremonde.For his daughter's happiness，Doctor Manette agrees their marriage.

出狱后，马奈特和女儿路茜一起居住在英国伦敦。路茜在这里邂逅了一位法国青年查尔斯·达尔奈，而她并不知道查尔斯·达尔奈正是埃弗雷蒙侯爵的侄儿。马奈特医生为了女儿的幸福，同意了路茜和达尔奈的婚事。(www.xing528.com)

In 1789，the French Revolution broke out，Charles Darnay risks to France.Unfortunately，Madame Defarge recognizes that Charles Darnay is Marquis St.Evremonde's nephew and determines to make him guillotine.Hearing this news，Doctor Manette and Lucie hurries to Paris and tries to help him by all means.

1789年法国革命爆发，达尔奈冒险来到巴黎。不幸的是，德法奇太太认出达尔奈是埃弗雷蒙侯爵的侄儿，并决意要将他送上断头台。马奈特医生和路茜闻讯后，立即赶到巴黎，想尽一切办法营救达尔奈。

However，at the important judging moment，Madame Defarge shows the accusation book w ritten by Doctor Manette that is hidden in the jail，thus Darnay is sentenced to death.The evening before executing，an English lawyer Sydney Carton，who deeply loves Lucie and has the similar appearance as Darnay，steals into the jail to replace him.When the carriage in which sit Darnays and Doctor Manette leaves Paris，Sydney Carton bravely goes to guillotine and sacrifices his life for his lover.

然而，在法庭审判的关键时刻，德法奇太太出示了马奈特医生藏在巴士底监狱牢房内的控诉书，达尔奈因此被判死刑。英国律师西德尼·卡顿深爱着路茜，而且和达尔奈面貌酷似。临刑前夜他混入狱中，换出了达尔奈。当马车载着达尔奈夫妇和马奈特医生远离巴黎的时候，卡顿勇敢地走上了断头台，为他心爱的女子牺牲了自己的生命。

Comment：A Tale of Two Cities is one of Dickens's most important representative works.The novel profoundly exposes the society contradiction before French Revolution and displays people's great strength.

评论：《双城记》是狄更斯最重要的代表作之一。小说深刻地揭露了法国大革命前的社会矛盾，表现了人民群众的伟大力量。