A Boy's Journey - World Classics (Introduction by Renowned Scholars)

Author: Hector Malot (France)
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Le Petit Poucet is a representative work of 19th-century melodramatic novels. The story, filled with suspense and vivid, fantastical plots, tells the wandering life of an abandoned child—Remy, shaping the image of a resilient and determined young boy. Readers can't help but shed tears for his hardships and are deeply moved by his indomitable spirit. For over a century, this book has remained one of the most beloved novels for teenagers and an enduring masterpiece cherished by readers worldwide. This edition is part of the "World Literary Classics·Renowned Author's Guidance Edition," edited by the famous writer Liu Xinwu, and is designed to complement language teaching. It includes sections on thematic content, artistic features, guidance by experts, the main text, and reflections, helping to improve students' language proficiency. The "World Literary Classics·Renowned Author's Guidance Edition" series is edited by the renowned Chinese writer Liu Xinwu, with editorial board members including Chen Jinming, the of the National Association of Chinese Language Teachers, and Zhang Yijian, a core member of the New Curriculum Standards Development Team and the vice of the National Association of Chinese Language Teachers. It is the series with the largest expert lineup in the current market.
The protagonist of Le Petit Poucet, Remy, was originally the child of an English nobleman but was abandoned in the countryside of France by his ruthless uncle and raised by a farmer. At the age of eight, Remy was sold by his selfish foster father to a traveling performer, Vitalis, and was forced to leave the loving foster mother he cherished, embarking on a journey with his new master. He spent his days with a monkey and three dogs, earning a living by performing street tricks. They traveled together, enduring hunger, cold, and danger. On a stormy night, Remy and Vitalis could not find shelter and lay covered in mud on dry grass, comforted only by a small dog. Once, during a performance, they encountered a cruel police officer who forced Vitalis to put a muzzle on the dog. The stubborn Vitalis resisted the police and was arrested, sentenced to two months in prison. In his hunger and helplessness, Remy met Mrs. Milligan, who was traveling on a yacht. The kind lady took him in, and he played music for her and her son on the ship, spending a happy time with them.
Vitalis was released from prison, and Remy was also sad to leave the yacht. But to teach Remy a lesson, Vitalis still took him away. Remy had to start his hard life again. On a night of heavy snow, two of the traveling troupe's dogs were killed by wolves, and the monkey, Mimi, died of cold and fear. The pillar of their livelihood collapsed, and what made Remy even sadder was that as his bond with Vitalis deepened, the old man collapsed from exhaustion and hardship and died.
Remy, fainting at the door of a florist's shop, was saved by the kind family, who gave him love and comfort. But his happiness was short-lived. The florist's greenhouse was struck by hail, leading to his bankruptcy and imprisonment. With no choice, Remy had to continue his wandering life. To survive, he joined the ranks of "coal blackers" in the mines, only to fall into a mine disaster and barely escape with his life. After leaving the mines, Remy longed for his foster mother and used the hard-earned money to buy her a cow. Their reunion was filled with joy. From her, Remy learned that his real mother was looking for him. In his haste to find her, he was mistakenly taken in by his false "father." Fortunately, his good friend Marcia noticed the deception and helped Remy escape the thieves' den. With his friend's help, Remy finally reunited with his mother. Through countless hardships, Remy fulfilled his beautiful dream, and the tough life had forged him into a strong, brave man.