荒凉山庄

维基百科，自由的百科全书

《荒涼山莊》（-{Bleak House}-），或譯為《蕭齋》，英國作家狄更斯所著小說，發表於1852年至1853年之間，是狄更斯最長的作品之一。

這部小說內容諷刺英國古老的「大法官庭」（Chancery）的作風，是司法體制顢頇、邪惡、無能的象徵。小說描寫了一件爭奪遺產的訴訟案，由於司法人員從中營私、徇訐，竟使得案情拖延二十年。在一個偶然機會裡，男爵夫人的私生女艾瑟‧萨莫森（Esther Summerson）被那一群律師得知，於是追根究柢的律師藉此威脅男爵夫人，甚至整死一名流浪少年，男爵夫人被迫離家出走，死於一場暴風雪。其中一名律師被他所利用的人殺害。這二十年期間申訴者居住在荒涼山莊，主人约翰‧詹狄士（John Jarndyce）成為一對表兄妹的監護人，等待法官做最後的判決，最後整筆遺產正好全數支付有關的法律訴訟費用，跟訴訟案有關的人死的死，發瘋的發瘋。多數評論家如蕭伯納、切斯特頓、康拉德、崔爾琳等人皆認為這部小說是「創下小說寫作高峰」，也是第一本「法律小說」。

[编辑] 人物介紹

• Esther Summerson — 原是一名孤兒，小說裡的英雄人物。
• Richard Carstone — 詹狄士告詹狄士（Jarndyce v Jarndyce）訴訟案法庭的守衛. A fairly simple but inconstant character who falls under the malign spell of the Jarndyce v Jarndyce case. At the end of the book he dies, tormented by his inability to make any progress in the case at the cost of all his money.
• Ada Clare — 詹狄士告詹狄士（Jarndyce v Jarndyce）訴訟案法庭的守衛。愛上康斯坦（Richard Carstone）的好女孩，他們最後秘密結婚。
• John Jarndyce — 荒涼山莊的男主人，是一個好人，成為一對表兄妹的監護人。
• Harold Skimpole — a friend of Jarndyce and "in the habit of sponging his friends" (Nuttall); supposedly based on Leigh Hunt. A thoroughly despicable character, amoral, and without remorse.
• Sir Leicester Dedlock — a crusty baronet, very much older than his wife and very "out of place" in the England of the 1830s.
• Honoria, Lady Dedlock — the haughty mistress of Chesney Wold. Her past drives much of the plot as it turns out she had an affair with another man and gave birth to his child. She discovers the child's identity (it's Esther) and then she has to fend off the manipulations of Mr. Tulkinghorn. At the end, she dies, disgraced in her own mind, convinced her aristocratic husband could never forgive her moral failings.
• Mr. Tulkinghorn — the Dedlock family lawyer. A scheming, manipulative monster of a man. He learns of Lady Dedlock's past and tries to blackmail her. He is murdered and the last part of the book turns into a murder investigation as several characters have good reason to want Tulkinghorn dead.
• Nemo — a law writer. A mysterious man who dies early in the story. He is later revealed to be a Captain in the British Army, the lover of Lady Dedlock, and the father of Esther.
• Miss Flite — an elderly eccentric obsessed with Chancery. She is a party in Jarndyce v Jarndyce.
• Mr. Guppy — a law clerk. He becomes very taken with Esther and plays a role in unearthing her true past. He proposes marriage to Esther, then withdraws the offer, then re-proposes. Esther politely refuses both his proposals.
• Inspector Bucket — a detective. He is the key player in the murder investigation of Mr. Tulkinghorn and he does solve the case.
• Mr. George — a former soldier. He is a trainer in the martial arts (swords and pistols mostly). Richard Carstone, before he joins the army, trains under him. Later we learn that Mr. George served under the command of "Nemo". He was the prime suspect in the death of Mr. Tulkinghorn and was arrested.
• Caddy Jellyby — a friend of Esther.
• Krook — a rag and bottle merchant and collector of papers. He dies from a case of Spontaneous human combustion, something that Dickens believed could, in fact, happen.
• Jo — a young boy who tries to make a living as a crossing sweeper. He dies from a disease (smallpox?) which Esther also catches (and is nearly killed by).
• Allan Woodcourt — a physician. A good man who likes Esther. She in turn likes him a great deal but feels unable to respond to his overtures because of her prior commitment to John Jarndyce. All is resolved happily at the end.
• Grandfather Smallweed — a money lender. An evil man who enjoys inflicting emotional pain on other people. He drives Mr. George into bankruptcy (by calling in debts).