英國作家查爾斯 · 狄更斯的一批未公開的書信首次被展出，其中一些信件表明他深知自己的名氣。這 11 封信揭示了這位作家的閱讀習慣、寫作計劃以及他因周日郵政服務被取消而心感沮喪。

In February 1866, Charles Dickens threatened to move away from his part of Kent [in the UK] because of the loss of a Sunday postal service. “I should be so hampered by the proposed restriction” he writes, in a letter made public for the first time, “that I think it would force me to leave this part of the country.”

1866年2月，查爾斯·狄更斯因周日郵政服務被取消而揚言要搬離他在英格蘭肯特郡居住的區域。“這項擬議的限制將使我受到束縛。” 他在一封首次公開的書信中寫道：“我認為這會迫使我搬離這里。”

He says he believes his neighbours in Higham would be sorry to lose him. Emily Dunbar, a curator of the Charles Dickens Museum, says the letter is a great example of the author showing self-importance and his awareness of his great fame.

他在信中還提到，他認為同住在肯特郡海厄姆的街坊鄰居會因失去他而難過。查爾斯·狄更斯博物館的一位策展人艾米莉·鄧巴說，這封信很好地例證了作者所展現的自高自大，并深知自己名聲在外。

The correspondence going on show is among more than 300 items acquired by the Charles Dickens Museum, with the help of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Friends of the National Libraries and the Dickens Fellowship.

在英國國家遺產紀念基金、英國藝術基金會、英國國家圖書館之友和狄更斯聯誼會的幫助下，查爾斯·狄更斯博物館獲得了300多件展品，其中包括首次被展出的11封書信。

詞匯表

threatened 揚言要
hampered 阻礙，妨礙
made public 公布于眾
self-importance 自大
awareness 意識，知道
correspondence 信件

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. Why did Charles Dickens threaten to move away from his home in Kent?

2. How many times have these letters by Charles Dickens been shown to the public?

3. According to the letters, how did Charles Dickens think his neighbours would feel if he moved away?

4. Where are these letters going on show?

答案  

1. Why did Charles Dickens threaten to move away from his home in Kent?
Charles Dickens threatened to move away from his part of Kent because of the loss of a Sunday postal service.

2. How many times have these letters by Charles Dickens been shown to the public?
This is the first time these letters have been shown to the public.

3. According to the letters, how did Charles Dickens think his neighbours would feel if he moved away?
He said he believed his neighbours in Higham would be sorry to lose him.

4. Where are these letters going on show?
They are going on show at the Charles Dickens Museum.