圖書簡介

　　奧利弗·哥爾德斯密斯的《威克菲爾德的牧師》是英國感傷主義的名作之一，這部名作既是社會小說，又是家庭小說。小說主人公普里姆羅斯博士以第一人稱敘述他一家悲歡離合的經過。他們本屬小康之家，待人寬厚，賓至如歸。但過于天真，缺乏處世經驗，屢遭欺凌。普里姆羅斯受經理他財產的商人之累，不幸破產，只得遠離家鄉去擔任一個小教區的牧師。不久，長女奧利維亞為當地鄉紳桑希爾誘騙后又遭遺棄。同時住宅失火，全家幾乎無棲身之地，桑希爾又暗使奸計，使牧師無力還債而入獄；次女索菲婭險入歹徒之手：長子因找玷辱他家門風的桑希爾決斗而被捕。正當山窮水盡之時，幸得桑希爾的叔父威廉爵士搭救，絕處逢生。威廉爵士娶索菲婭為妻，取消了桑希爾繼承他財產的權利，并把其中的三分之一劃歸奧利維亞，牧師一家得以團聚。小說一方面描寫了社會現實的黑暗和罪惡，另一方面又創造了一幅純樸、真誠、理想化了的田園家庭生活的圖畫以鼓舞讀者。其中的主人公普里姆羅斯博士啟發狄更斯創作小說《‘匹克威克外傳》的主人公匹克威克的形象。哥爾德斯密斯的小說在其他方面也對狄更斯的創作發生過影響。

目錄

Chapter 1 The description of the family of Wakefield;
  in which a kindred likeness prevails as
  well of minds as of persons
Chapter 2 Family misfortunes. The loss Of fortune only
  servesto increase the pride of the worthy
Chapter 3 A migration. The fortunate circumstances
  of our lives are generally found at last to
  be of our own procuring
Chapter 4 A proofthat even the humblest fortune
  may grant happiness, which depends
  not on circumstance, but constitution
Chapter 5 A new and great acquaintance introduced.
  What we place mosthopes upon,
  generally proves most fatal
Chapter 6 The happiness of a country;fire-side
Chapter 7 A town wit described. The dullest fellows
  may learn to be comical for a night or two
Chapter 8 An amour, which promises little good
  fortune, yet may be productive of much
Chapter 9 Two ladies of great distinction introduced.
  Superior finery ever seems to confer
  superior breeding
Chapter 10 The family endeavours to cope with their
  betters. The miseries of the poor when
  they attempt to appear above their
  circumstances
Chapter 11 The family still resolve to hold up their
  heads
Chapter 12 Fortune seems resolved to humble the
  fami!y of Wakefield. Mortifications are
  often more painful than real calamities
Chapter 13 Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for
  he has the confidence to give disagreeable
  advice
Chapter 14 Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that
  seeming calamities may be real blessings
Chapter 15 All Mr Burchell's villainy at once detected.
  The folly of being-over-wise
Chapter 16 The family use art, which is opposed with
  still greater
Chapter 17 Scarce any virtue found to resist the power
  of long and pleasing temptation
Chapter 18 The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost
  child to virtue
Chapter 19 The description of a person discontented
  with thepresent government,, and
  apprehensive: of the loss of our liberties
Chapter 20 The history of a philosophic vagabond,
  pursuing novelty, but losing content
Chapter 21 The short continuance of friendship amongst
  the vicious, which is coeval only with
  mutual satisfaction
Chapter 22 Offences are easily pardoned where there
  is love at bottom
Chapter 23 None but the guilty can be long and completely
  miserable
Chapter 24 Fresh calamities
Chapter 25 No situation, however wretched it seems,
  but has some sort of comfort attending it
Chapter 26 A reformation in the gaol. To make laws
  complete, they should reward as well
  as punish
Chapter 27 The same subject continued
Chapter 28 Happiness and misery rather the result of
  prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal
  evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as
  things merely in themselves trifling and
  unworthy its care in the distribution
Chapter 29 The equal dealings of providence demonstrated
  with regard to the happy and the miserable
  here below. That from the nature of pleasure
  and pain, the wretched must be repaid the
  balance of their sufferings in the life
  hereafter
Chapter 30 Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us
  be inflexible, and fortune will at last change
  in our favour
Chapter 31 Former benevolence now repaidwith
  unexpected interest
Chapter 32 The conclusion

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