今年是英國作家简·奥斯汀（Jane Austen）逝世两百周年。在1817年7月18日，年仅41岁的简·奥斯汀在英国温彻斯特因病去世。1775年12月16日，她出生于英国汉普郡史蒂文顿的牧师家庭，终生未婚，起初和父母在乡间生活，父亲过世受到兄长的庇护，是家里子侄辈尊敬爱戴的“简姑妈”。简·奥斯汀的一生没有跌宕起伏的人生经历，然而她却为英国贡献了丰富的文学遗产。她所出版的六部长篇小说，即《理智与情感》（Sense and Sensibility）、《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）、《曼斯菲尔德庄园》（Mansfield Park）、《爱玛》（Emma）、《诺桑觉寺》（Northanger Abbey）、《劝导》（Persuasion），每一部都体现了她对人性深刻的洞察，对英国人的性格、礼仪、风俗等的精细呈现以及对英文的精妙运用。她是英国人最喜爱的作家之一，作品被数十次翻拍为电影或电视剧。她也是世界读者最喜爱的英国小说家之一，在21世纪的当代，她的作品依然拥有广泛的读者群，被视为英国文化的瑰宝。

Excerpts1）

Mr. Bingley2） was good looking and gentlemanlike； he had a pleasant countenance， and easy， unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women， with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law， Mr. Hurst， merely looked the gentleman； but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine， tall person， handsome features， noble mien3）； and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance， of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man， the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley， and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening， till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity； for he was discovered to be proud， to be above his company， and above being pleased； and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding， disagreeable countenance， and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room； he was lively and unreserved， danced every dance， was angry that the ball closed so early， and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend！ Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley， declined being introduced to any other lady， and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room， speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest， most disagreeable man in the world， and every body hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet， whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged， by the scarcity4） of gentlemen， to sit down for two dances； and during part of that time， Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley， who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.endprint

“Come， Darcy，” said he， “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it， unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this， it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged， and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

“I would not be so fastidious5） as you are，” cried Bingley， “for a kingdom！ Upon my honour I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life， as I have this evening； and there are several of them， you see， uncommonly pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room，” said Mr. Darcy， looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

“Oh！ she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld！ But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you， who is very pretty， and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”

“Which do you mean？” and turning round， he looked for a moment at Elizabeth， till catching her eye， he withdrew his own and coldly said， “She is tolerable； but not handsome enough to tempt me； and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles， for you are wasting your time with me.”

作品賞析

简·奥斯汀在写《傲慢与偏见》的初稿时，原草拟的标题是《第一印象》。女主人公伊丽莎白·贝内特与男主人公菲茨威廉·达西相识于一场舞会。当时达西的好友宾利刚刚搬到内瑟菲尔德，第一次参加当地的社交舞会，他选中了全场最美丽的姑娘简与自己共舞。为了怕同行的好友达西落单，宾利向达西推荐了简的妹妹伊丽莎白。达西打量了伊丽莎白一番后，敬谢不敏：“她还过得去，但是还没漂亮到能够打动我的心。眼下，我可没有兴致去抬举那些受到别人冷落的小姐。你最好回到你的舞伴身边，去欣赏她的笑脸，别把时光浪费在我身上。……