内容简介
Sixty years ago, on October 15, 1952, E.B. White's Charlotte's Web was published. It's gone on to become one of the most beloved children's books of all time. To celebrate this milestone, the renowned Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo has written a heartfelt and poignant tribute to the book that is itself a beautiful translation of White's own view of the world—of the joy he took in the change of seasons, in farm life, in the miracles of life and death, and, in short, the glory of everything.
We are proud to include Kate DiCamillo's foreword in the 60th anniversary editions of this cherished classic.
Charlotte's Web is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur—and of Wilbur's dear friend Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn.
With the help of Templeton, the rat who never did anything for anybody unless there was something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saved the life of Wilbur, who by this time had grown up to quite a pig.
How all this comes about is Mr. White's story. It is a story of the magic of childhood on the farm. The thousands of children who loved Stuart Little, the heroic little city mouse, will be entranced with Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig, and Fern, the little girl who understood their language.
The forty-seven black-and-white drawings by Garth Williams have all the wonderful detail and warmhearted appeal that children love in his work. Incomparably matched to E.B. White's marvelous story, they speak to each new generation, softly and irresistibly.
作者简介
E. B. White, the author of such beloved classics as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan, was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine, then in its infancy. He died on October 1, 1985, and was survived by his son and three grandchildren.
Mr. White's essays have appeared in Harper's magazine, and some of his other books are: One Man's Meat, The Second Tree from the Corner, Letters of E. B. White, Essays of E. B. White, and Poems and Sketches of E. B. White. He won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which commended him for making a “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”
During his lifetime, many young readers asked Mr. White if his stories were true. In a letter written to be sent to his fans, he answered, “No, they are imaginary tales . . . But real life is only one kind of life—there is also the life of the imagination.”
Garth Williams began his work on the pictures for the Little House books by meeting Laura Ingalls Wilder at her home in Missouri, and then he traveled to the sites of all the little houses. His charming art caused Laura to remark that she and her family “live again in these illustrations.”
Kate DiCamillo is the acclaimed author of many books for young readers, including The Tale of Despereaux, winner of the Newbery Medal; Because of Winn-Dixie, a Newbery Honor Book; and The Tiger Rising, a National Book Award finalist. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
E·B·怀特,美国当代著名散文家、评论家,以散文名世,“其文风冷峻清丽,辛辣幽默,自成一格”。生于纽约蒙特弗农,毕业于康奈尔大学。作为《纽约客》主要撰稿人的怀特一手奠定了影响深远的 “《纽约客》文风”。怀特对这个世界上的一切都充满关爱,他的道德与他的文章一样山高水长。除了他终生挚爱的随笔之外,他还为孩子们写了三本书:《斯图尔特鼠小弟》(又译《精灵鼠小弟》)、《夏洛的网》与《吹小号的天鹅》,同样成为儿童与成人共同喜爱的文学经典。
精彩书评
An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things.
E.B. White's enduring classic celebrates in style with the release of the Charlotte's Web 5oth Anniversary Retrospective Edition. The handsome volume sports a clothbound cover framing original jacket art; inside, Rosemary Wells adds country color to Garth Williams's original b&w; illustrations. An afterword by Peter F. Neumeyer illuminates White's life and work, including photographs of the author on his farm in Maine as well as pages from the seminal manuscript.
--Publishers Weekly 前言/序言
《小王子》(Le Petit Prince)图书简介 作者: 安托万·德·圣埃克苏佩里(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) 类型: 童话、哲学小说 目标读者: 适合所有年龄段(尤指成人与青少年) --- 简介: 在浩瀚无垠的撒哈拉沙漠上,一架飞机因为机械故障迫降,将叙述者——一位飞行员——带入了一个荒凉却又充满奇遇的境地。正是在这里,他遇到了一个来自遥远小行星B-612的神秘小男孩,也就是我们故事的主人公——小王子。 这不是一个简单的冒险故事,而是一次对成人世界普遍的盲目、功利和缺乏想象力的深刻反思。小王子以他纯真而直接的视角,向这位疲惫的飞行员,以及千千万万的读者,展示了何为真正重要的事物。 星际的旅程与纯真的视角 小王子的家园是一颗比房子大不了多少的小行星,他每日的职责便是清理三座火山(两座活的,一座死的)的灰烬,并拔除那些可能吞噬他世界的猴面包树的幼苗。然而,这份平静被一朵美丽却又虚荣的玫瑰花的出现打破了。这朵玫瑰的娇弱、对关爱的无限索取以及她那不坦诚的爱意,让小王子感到困惑和痛苦,最终促使他离开了自己的星球,踏上了一段漫长而富有启迪的星际旅行。 他的旅程并非随机的选择,而是对成人世界各种怪异行为的逐一探访和观察。 第一站:国王的星球。 小王子遇到一位声称统治着一切的国王,但他统治的只是空无一人的世界。国王的愿望是统治,哪怕对象只是一只老鼠。这揭示了权力的虚妄和对“被需要”的病态渴求。 第二站:爱虚荣者的星球。 这是一个只有赞美和掌声才能生存的地方。爱虚荣者只听得见奉承,他渴望成为所有人心目中的偶像,却从未真正活出自我。小王子不理解,为何需要不停地被赞美才能快乐。 第三站:酒鬼的星球。 小王子遇到一位不停喝酒的先生,他喝酒是为了忘记自己为羞愧而饮酒的痛苦。这是一个陷入自我封闭和恶性循环的悲剧缩影,展示了逃避现实的徒劳。 第四站:商人的星球。 这位商人终日忙碌,声称“拥有”天上的星星,他将时间全部投入到清点和计算财富中,却从未停下来欣赏过星星本身的美丽。他代表了现代社会中对物质占有欲的痴迷,以及对生命中真正美好瞬间的漠视。 第五站:点灯人的星球。 这是一个极度乏味却又相对负责任的星球。点灯人严格遵守着一个早已失去意义的命令——每分钟点灯、熄灯。他体现了墨守成规的盲目和机械化劳动的悲哀。 第六站:地理学家的星球。 地理学家是一个饱学之士,他记录着永恒的事物,却从未亲自探索过自己的星球。他鄙视那些“短暂”的事物,比如花朵,认为它们转瞬即逝,不值得记录。小王子由此意识到,那些被他忽视的“短暂”事物,恰恰是生命的意义所在。 地球上的相遇与秘密的揭示 最终,小王子抵达了地球,发现了一个巨大的花园里开满了成千上万朵和他的玫瑰花一模一样的花朵。这让他彻底崩溃,他以为自己的玫瑰花是宇宙中独一无二的存在。 然而,他的命运在狐狸的出现后发生了转折。 狐狸的教诲:建立联系的意义 狐狸是小王子在地球上遇到的最重要导师。狐狸向小王子揭示了“驯服”(Tame)的真正含义——建立关系,创造牵绊。狐狸告诉他: > “对我来说,你不过是个小男孩,和其他成千上万的小男孩没什么区别。我不需要你,你也不需要我。对你来说,我也只是一只狐狸,和其他成千上万的狐狸没有差别。但是,如果你驯服了我,我们就会彼此需要。 对我来说,你就是世界上独一无二的;对你来说,我也是世界上独一无二的……” 正是通过狐狸,小王子明白了,尽管他的玫瑰花看起来和花园里的花朵一样,但她因为被他浇灌、被他遮风挡雨、被他倾听她的抱怨和虚荣,所以她对他来说是独一无二的。建立的爱与责任,赋予了事物独特的价值。 秘密的本质 狐狸传授给小王子一句永恒的真理,也是全书的核心: > “真正重要的东西,用眼睛是看不见的。” (What is essential is invisible to the eye.) 这句箴言点醒了小王子:大人总是关注数字、价格和外表,却忽略了爱、友谊、忠诚和想象力的价值。 离别与永恒的思念 小王子在地球上度过了一段时光,他学会了责任、付出了爱,也明白了失去。当他决定返回自己的星球,回到他的玫瑰身边时,他必须以一种极端的方式告别——被毒蛇咬伤。 在与飞行员(叙述者)的最后告别中,小王子留下了无尽的思念和对纯真的呼唤。飞行员在沙漠中得以修复飞机,重返人间,但他永远被小王子留下的眼泪和仰望星空时听到的银铃般的笑声所牵动。 主题与风格 《小王子》以其简洁的语言和童稚的插图,包装了极其深刻的哲学议题: 1. 爱与责任: 真正的爱包含着被建立的牵绊和承担的责任。 2. 批判成人世界: 对功利主义、物质主义和缺乏想象力的生活方式进行温柔而尖锐的批判。 3. 童心未泯: 呼吁读者找回孩童时代那种简单、直接、专注于内心感受的能力。 4. 孤独与连接: 探讨了人类在广袤宇宙中的孤独感,以及通过真诚关系(驯服)建立连接的必要性。 这部作品超越了传统童话的范畴,它是一本写给所有“曾经是孩子,但已经忘记了”的成人的寓言,提醒我们在追逐“重要的事情”时,不要忘记抬头看看星空,倾听内心的声音,因为那里藏着我们最珍贵的回忆与情感。它的魅力在于,每个年龄段的读者都能从中读出不同的层次与感悟。