叙述与见证:多克特罗的历史写作

Narrative and witness: E. L. Doctorow's historical fiction

E·L·多克特罗是当今美国文坛最具声望的作家之一。他擅于书写历史,把对艺术形式和社会责任的追求融入小说中,形成了独特的历史写作风格。本文阐述了多克特罗创作观中叙述与现实、神话与历史、小说与见证等多方面的关系。通过分析他的《上帝之城》、《大进军》和《纽约兄弟》,本文认为,其作品揭示了叙述与现实之暧昧关系,历史的复杂性,以及为时代作见证的紧迫性。

E. L. Doctorow is one of the most prominent novelists in contemporary America. He specializes in the fictional representation of American history and develops a particular form of historical fiction by being artistically venturesome and socially conscientious. This paper explores Doctorow's ideas on the relationship between narrative and reality,myth and history,fiction and witness,and indicates that his writing can help the reader realize the ambiguity of reality,the complexity of history and the importance of bearing witness to history through a discussion of three novels,City of God,The March and Homer and Langley.