The Most Classic Short Story -(Chinese-English Treasure Edition)

Author: Xu Hanlin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: A feast of classic masters, a treasure of world literature! The selected works in this book are considered masterpieces of human language and literature. Renowned authors and excellent translations guide readers to experience the love and care for ordinary people depicted by O. Henry through the touch of the masters; to appreciate the satirical techniques and natural, flowing prose of Guy de Maupassant; and to savor the grandeur and plain yet profound language of Hemingway's works.
Diverse Themes: The selected works cover a wide range of themes, from the mundane lives of ordinary people to the campaign for governor by government officials, fully reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds, writing styles, artistic tendencies, and narrative methods in contemporary short fiction.
Profound Content: The works are deeply meaningful and are timeless classics in world literary history, still shining brightly today. They offer both criticism and calls to action regarding the injustices of the real world, as well as nostalgia and reflection on human history; they care about ethical and moral values in the human world while exploring the spiritual realms of individuals.
Distinct Styles: Some works excel in plot or storytelling techniques, leaving readers in awe after reading them. Others are profound in meaning, making readers ponder deeply and remember them for a long time. These completely different styles and writing techniques bring fresh perspectives. Reading beautiful and thought-provoking short stories throughout one's life can not only broaden horizons but also inspire intellect, cultivate character, and help one understand life.
This book selects more than 30 outstanding works from the vast treasure trove of world short fiction, accompanied by authentic English translations. It includes concise and vivid author biographies, guiding readers to interpret the language features and artistic styles of the works from multiple angles and depths. To facilitate reading, the book is also equipped with over a hundred illustrations that vividly recreate the dramatic and captivating scenes of the stories, forming a rich gallery of characters and a broad, ever-changing social landscape, bringing readers greater aesthetic enjoyment and cultural enrichment.
This book is not only a read for English learners and literature enthusiasts but also a haven for the weary modern mind.
At home, Della's elation turned a bit cautious and sensible. She found the curling iron, lit the gas stove, and began to repair the damage caused by love and generosity. This was usually a remarkable task, dear friend—it was nothing short of a magnificent undertaking. In less than forty minutes, her head was covered with fine, tight curls close to her scalp, making her look like a truant boy. She studied her reflection in the mirror for a long time, careful and critical.
"Look, Jim, don't kill me if you see me like this!" she muttered to herself. "You'd say I looked like a singer from the minstrel troupe on Coney Island. But what can I do—oh, for goodness sake, what can eighty-seven cents do!"
At seven o'clock, the coffee was ready, and the skillet was on the stove, ready to fry the steak. Jim was always on time. Della held the folded chain of her watch in her hand and sat at the corner of the table where Jim was sure to pass when he came in. Then she heard the sound of his footsteps on the stairs, and she turned pale with nervousness. She was accustomed to silently praying for everyday trivialities, and now she murmured softly: "God, please let him think I'm still beautiful!"
The door opened, and Jim stepped inside, closing it behind him. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, only twenty-two, and already burdened with the responsibilities of a family! He ought to buy a new overcoat, yet he didn't even have a pair of gloves.
Jim stood in the doorway, like a hound that had caught the scent of a quail, motionless. He stared at Della, his expression inscrutable, making her shudder. It wasn't anger, nor surprise, nor dissatisfaction, nor even disgust—it was none of the emotions she had expected. He just stared at her with that strange, odd look.
Della twisted her waist and jumped off the table, walking toward him.
"Jim, dear," she called, "don't look at me like that. I cut my hair off and sold it because I can't spend Christmas without giving you a gift. It will grow back, you won't mind, will you? I had to do it. My hair grows very, very fast. Say Merry Christmas, Jim! Let's be happy. You surely won't guess what lovely, beautiful gift I bought for you!"
"You sold your hair?" Jim asked, struggling to grasp the reality before him.
"It's gone, sold," Della said. "But anyway, you'll still love me. Without hair, I'm still me, aren't I?"
Jim's expression was strange as he looked around.
"You mean your hair is gone?" he asked almost foolishly.
"Don't look for it," Della said. "It's already sold. I tell you, it's gone, there's none left. Tonight is Christmas Eve, dear, be good to me. It's for you. Perhaps my hair can be counted," she suddenly continued in a serious yet tender tone, "but the love I have for you no one can count. May I put the steak in the pan, Jim?"
Jim seemed to snap out of a daze and suddenly embraced his Della.
Don't hurry, let's spend ten seconds to think carefully from another angle about certain things...