契诃夫小说在英国的早期传播

Communication of A. P. Chekhov's Novels in U. K.

本文讨论了19世纪末英国出现"进口"俄罗斯文学,尤其是契诃夫小说的需求,并逐步成为整个欧洲文化发展的动因。关注这段时期文学中间人,包括俄罗斯的托尔斯泰、诺维科娃以及法国的莫泊桑、左拉在构建俄英文化交流中的作用。文中指出他们作品间的相似性并印证"对流说"理论,即英国人紧随法国人在契诃夫小说中发现"自我",而契诃夫也在狄更斯,更准确说是自然主义者莫泊桑、左拉的作品中找到自己的影子。因此,英国民众在理解契诃夫时表现出的复杂性、双重性就显得尤为重要。一方面,契诃夫的接受度与他在评论界的声望有关(先被称为"俄罗斯的"狄更斯,之后是"俄罗斯的"莫泊桑);另一方面,英国民众的需求不清晰:一部分英国人受到法国新文学流派的影响,而另一部分人在关注"俄罗斯问题"的同时解决自身任务。

The article throws light upon the emergent situation in England near the close of the 19 th century,when the necessity to＂import＂Russian literature,particularly of the prose of A. Chekhov was gradually becoming a prominent factor in the cultural development in the whole Europe. Figured in this process of the reception of Russian literature,intermediaries from both Russian and French literary circles become the objects of special attention. The Russians,such as L. Tolstoy and O. Novikova,are given as examples of those who played key roles in direct literature contacts between Russia and England,meanwhile,the French authors,like Maupassant and Zola,are considered as the front runners for the interaction of the two literatures. The typological parallels between Russian and English literature are explained through A. Veselovsky＇s theory of the＂meeting of opposing currents＂. The concept of a double,complex reception of Chekhov in England will be developed. On the one hand,Chekhov＇s reception will be linked with his evolving reputation in Russian criticism（ first,＂Russian＂Dickens,later＂Russian＂Maupassant） and,on the other hand,associated with the multiple,potentially conflicting needs of the English literary community（ including writers,critics,and readers）. These responses can be identified in part by those English partici-pants attending to contemporary French influence in the Russian＂flood＂and others approaching uniquely English problems by directly seeking out Russian literary authorities.