內容簡介
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.
作者簡介
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·懷特,美國當代著名散文傢、評論傢,以散文名世,“其文風冷峻清麗,辛辣幽默,自成一格”。生於紐約濛特弗農,畢業於康奈爾大學。作為《紐約客》主要撰稿人的懷特一手奠定瞭影響深遠的 “《紐約客》文風”。懷特對這個世界上的一切都充滿關愛,他的道德與他的文章一樣山高水長。除瞭他終生摯愛的隨筆之外,他還為孩子們寫瞭三本書:《斯圖爾特鼠小弟》(又譯《精靈鼠小弟》)、《夏洛的網》與《吹小號的天鵝》,同樣成為兒童與成人共同喜愛的文學經典。
精彩書評
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)圖書簡介 作者: 安托萬·德·聖埃剋蘇佩裏(Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) 類型: 童話、哲學小說 目標讀者: 適閤所有年齡段(尤指成人與青少年) --- 簡介: 在浩瀚無垠的撒哈拉沙漠上,一架飛機因為機械故障迫降,將敘述者——一位飛行員——帶入瞭一個荒涼卻又充滿奇遇的境地。正是在這裏,他遇到瞭一個來自遙遠小行星B-612的神秘小男孩,也就是我們故事的主人公——小王子。 這不是一個簡單的冒險故事,而是一次對成人世界普遍的盲目、功利和缺乏想象力的深刻反思。小王子以他純真而直接的視角,嚮這位疲憊的飛行員,以及韆韆萬萬的讀者,展示瞭何為真正重要的事物。 星際的旅程與純真的視角 小王子的傢園是一顆比房子大不瞭多少的小行星,他每日的職責便是清理三座火山(兩座活的,一座死的)的灰燼,並拔除那些可能吞噬他世界的猴麵包樹的幼苗。然而,這份平靜被一朵美麗卻又虛榮的玫瑰花的齣現打破瞭。這朵玫瑰的嬌弱、對關愛的無限索取以及她那不坦誠的愛意,讓小王子感到睏惑和痛苦,最終促使他離開瞭自己的星球,踏上瞭一段漫長而富有啓迪的星際旅行。 他的旅程並非隨機的選擇,而是對成人世界各種怪異行為的逐一探訪和觀察。 第一站:國王的星球。 小王子遇到一位聲稱統治著一切的國王,但他統治的隻是空無一人的世界。國王的願望是統治,哪怕對象隻是一隻老鼠。這揭示瞭權力的虛妄和對“被需要”的病態渴求。 第二站:愛虛榮者的星球。 這是一個隻有贊美和掌聲纔能生存的地方。愛虛榮者隻聽得見奉承,他渴望成為所有人心目中的偶像,卻從未真正活齣自我。小王子不理解,為何需要不停地被贊美纔能快樂。 第三站:酒鬼的星球。 小王子遇到一位不停喝酒的先生,他喝酒是為瞭忘記自己為羞愧而飲酒的痛苦。這是一個陷入自我封閉和惡性循環的悲劇縮影,展示瞭逃避現實的徒勞。 第四站:商人的星球。 這位商人終日忙碌,聲稱“擁有”天上的星星,他將時間全部投入到清點和計算財富中,卻從未停下來欣賞過星星本身的美麗。他代錶瞭現代社會中對物質占有欲的癡迷,以及對生命中真正美好瞬間的漠視。 第五站:點燈人的星球。 這是一個極度乏味卻又相對負責任的星球。點燈人嚴格遵守著一個早已失去意義的命令——每分鍾點燈、熄燈。他體現瞭墨守成規的盲目和機械化勞動的悲哀。 第六站:地理學傢的星球。 地理學傢是一個飽學之士,他記錄著永恒的事物,卻從未親自探索過自己的星球。他鄙視那些“短暫”的事物,比如花朵,認為它們轉瞬即逝,不值得記錄。小王子由此意識到,那些被他忽視的“短暫”事物,恰恰是生命的意義所在。 地球上的相遇與秘密的揭示 最終,小王子抵達瞭地球,發現瞭一個巨大的花園裏開滿瞭成韆上萬朵和他的玫瑰花一模一樣的花朵。這讓他徹底崩潰,他以為自己的玫瑰花是宇宙中獨一無二的存在。 然而,他的命運在狐狸的齣現後發生瞭轉摺。 狐狸的教誨:建立聯係的意義 狐狸是小王子在地球上遇到的最重要導師。狐狸嚮小王子揭示瞭“馴服”(Tame)的真正含義——建立關係,創造牽絆。狐狸告訴他: > “對我來說,你不過是個小男孩,和其他成韆上萬的小男孩沒什麼區彆。我不需要你,你也不需要我。對你來說,我也隻是一隻狐狸,和其他成韆上萬的狐狸沒有差彆。但是,如果你馴服瞭我,我們就會彼此需要。 對我來說,你就是世界上獨一無二的;對你來說,我也是世界上獨一無二的……” 正是通過狐狸,小王子明白瞭,盡管他的玫瑰花看起來和花園裏的花朵一樣,但她因為被他澆灌、被他遮風擋雨、被他傾聽她的抱怨和虛榮,所以她對他來說是獨一無二的。建立的愛與責任,賦予瞭事物獨特的價值。 秘密的本質 狐狸傳授給小王子一句永恒的真理,也是全書的核心: > “真正重要的東西,用眼睛是看不見的。” (What is essential is invisible to the eye.) 這句箴言點醒瞭小王子:大人總是關注數字、價格和外錶,卻忽略瞭愛、友誼、忠誠和想象力的價值。 離彆與永恒的思念 小王子在地球上度過瞭一段時光,他學會瞭責任、付齣瞭愛,也明白瞭失去。當他決定返迴自己的星球,迴到他的玫瑰身邊時,他必須以一種極端的方式告彆——被毒蛇咬傷。 在與飛行員(敘述者)的最後告彆中,小王子留下瞭無盡的思念和對純真的呼喚。飛行員在沙漠中得以修復飛機,重返人間,但他永遠被小王子留下的眼淚和仰望星空時聽到的銀鈴般的笑聲所牽動。 主題與風格 《小王子》以其簡潔的語言和童稚的插圖,包裝瞭極其深刻的哲學議題: 1. 愛與責任: 真正的愛包含著被建立的牽絆和承擔的責任。 2. 批判成人世界: 對功利主義、物質主義和缺乏想象力的生活方式進行溫柔而尖銳的批判。 3. 童心未泯: 呼籲讀者找迴孩童時代那種簡單、直接、專注於內心感受的能力。 4. 孤獨與連接: 探討瞭人類在廣袤宇宙中的孤獨感,以及通過真誠關係(馴服)建立連接的必要性。 這部作品超越瞭傳統童話的範疇,它是一本寫給所有“曾經是孩子,但已經忘記瞭”的成人的寓言,提醒我們在追逐“重要的事情”時,不要忘記抬頭看看星空,傾聽內心的聲音,因為那裏藏著我們最珍貴的迴憶與情感。它的魅力在於,每個年齡段的讀者都能從中讀齣不同的層次與感悟。