SAT閱讀文章（文學作品）第18篇

簡·奧斯汀（Jane Austen，1775年12月16日－1817年7月18日）是一位英國小說家，她的五部主要作品詮釋評論了18世紀末英國地主鄉紳的生活。她出版的第二部小說《傲慢與偏見》是她在世時評價最高的作品。她小說中的情節常常反映了女性為追求社會地位和經濟保障而把婚姻作為依靠。

奧斯汀的作品如今幾乎從不絕版，但它們在當初是匿名出版的，在她在世時只收穫了寥寥評論，沒有使她出名。1869年，她去世52年後，她的侄子出版了《簡·奧斯汀回憶錄》（A Memoir of Jane Austen），更多公眾和讀者得以知曉她，她作為作家的名望經歷了重大的轉變。奧斯汀的五部主要作品都在1811年至1818年間首次出版。1811年至1816年，《理智與情感》（1811）、《傲慢與偏見》（1813）、《曼斯菲爾德莊園》（1814）和《愛瑪》（1815）使她成為了一個成功作家。她還寫了兩部小說，分別是《諾桑覺寺》和《勸導》，在她去世後的1818年出版。她還開始了另一部小說的創作，但沒有完成就去世了，它最終被命名為《桑迪頓》。

《諾桑覺寺》（Northanger Abbey），是英國小說家簡·奧斯丁的小說。1817年出版。

根據卡桑德拉·奧斯丁的回憶錄，簡·奧斯丁於1798年到1799年間就已經完成了這部作品（當時的書名是《蘇珊》），1803年完成修訂，並以10英鎊的價格賣給了倫敦的一家出版商克羅斯比公司（Crosbie & Co.）。然而書稿在書商的架子上閑置多年始終未獲出版。直到奧斯丁已經出版了四部暢銷小說之後，她的哥哥亨利才以完全相同的價格將書稿買回。奧斯丁對書稿再次進行了修訂。1817年12月，奧斯丁去世後，本書與《勸導》一起作為四卷本的頭兩卷正式出版。

主要情節：17歲的凱瑟琳·莫蘭陪伴富有無子的鄰居艾倫夫婦到巴斯度假，結識了新潮時髦的索普兄妹和有教養的蒂爾尼兄妹。後者邀請她到他們的宅第——諾桑覺寺做客。凱瑟琳非常著迷於當時的哥特式小說，她期待著能在古老神秘的大宅里發現一些黑暗的秘密。正是受到哥特式小說的影響，凱瑟琳對過世的蒂爾尼夫人的死因胡猜亂想，亨利知曉後責備了凱瑟琳，讓她倍感慚愧。之後蒂爾尼將軍無情的下了逐客令，凱瑟琳心灰意冷的回到家中。

另一方面，曾和凱瑟琳的哥哥訂婚的伊莎貝拉·索普結識了亨利的哥哥蒂爾尼上校後取消了與莫蘭家的婚約。凱瑟琳的巴斯之行似乎帶來了一串惡果。

好在亨利隨後到莫蘭家造訪，澄清了一切誤會。原來蒂爾尼將軍受約翰·索普的誤導以為凱瑟琳是富有的女繼承人，於是刻意撮合她與亨利；後來他發現凱瑟琳沒有多少財產，就氣急敗壞的趕走了她。但是亨利已經愛上了凱瑟琳，並向她求婚。最後有情人終成眷屬。

This passage is excerpted from Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, originally published in 1803.

Mrs. Allen was so long in dressing that they did not enter the ballroom till late. As for Mr. Allen, he repaired directly to the card-room. With more care for the safety of her new gown than for the comfort of her protegee, Mrs. Allen made her way through the throng of men by the door, as swiftly as the necessary caution would allow; Catherine, however, kept close at her side, and linked her arm too firmly within her friends to be torn asunder by any common effort of a struggling assembly. Still they moved on—something better was yet in view; and by a continued exertion of strength and ingenuity they found themselves at last in the passage behind the highest bench. It was a splendid sight, and she began, for the first time that evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room.

Catherine began to feel something of disappointment—she was tired of being continually pressed against by people, the generality of whose faces possessed nothing to interest, and with all of whom she was so wholly unacquainted that she could not relieve the irksomeness of imprisonment by the exchange of a syllable with any of her fellow captives. They saw nothing of Mr. Allen; and after looking about them in vain for a more eligible situation, were obliged to sit down at the end of a table, at which a large party were already placed, without having anything to do there, or anybody to speak to, except each other.

Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having preserved her gown from injury. "It would have been very shocking to have it torn," said she, "would not it? It is such a delicate muslin. For my part I have not seen anything I like so well in the whole room, I assure you."

"How uncomfortable it is," whispered Catherine, "not to have a single acquaintance here!"

"Yes, my dear," replied Mrs. Allen, with perfect serenity, "it is very uncomfortable indeed."

"What shall we do? The gentlemen and ladies at this table look as if they wondered why we came here—we seem forcing ourselves into their party."

"Aye, so we do. That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large acquaintance here."

"I wish we had any—it would be somebody to go to."

"Very true, my dear; and if we knew anybody we would join them directly. The Skinners were here last year—I wish they were here now."

"Had not we better go away as it is? Here are no tea-things for us, you see."

"No more there are, indeed. How very provoking! But I think we had better sit still, for one gets so tumbled in such a crowd! How is my head, my dear? Somebody gave me a push that has hurt it, I am afraid."

"No, indeed, it looks very nice. But, dear Mrs. Allen, are you sure there is nobody you know in all this multitude of people? I think you must know somebody."

"I dont, upon my word—I wish I did. I wish I had a large acquaintance here with all my heart, and then I should get you a partner. I should be so glad to have you dance. There goes a strange-looking woman! What an odd gown she has got on! How old-fashioned it is! Look at the back."

After some time they received an offer of tea from one of their neighbours; it was thankfully accepted, and this introduced a light conversation with the gentleman who offered it, which was the only time that anybody spoke to them during the evening, till they were discovered and joined by Mr. Allen when the dance was over.

"Well, Miss Morland," said he, directly, "I hope you have had an agreeable ball."

"Very agreeable indeed," she replied, vainly endeavouring to hide a great yawn.

"I wish she had been able to dance," said his wife; "I wish we could have got a partner for her. I have been saying how glad I should be if the Skinners were here this winter instead of last; or if the Parrys had come, as they talked of once, she might have danced with George Parry. I am so sorry she has not had a partner!"

"We shall do better another evening I hope," was Mr. Allens consolation.