Books (29)
Dystopia is a recently coined word to describe negative utopias, and can be taken literally to mean 'bad place'. In the 20th century dystopian fiction dominates utopian fiction. There was a generally skeptical or pessimistic view about science and technology among 20th century writers. Some of the reasons for this are historical, and follow from quite real fears of nuclear war and nuclear accidents, the escape of deadly viruses, the creation of intelligent machines to rival humans, cloning etc.
Two major works of dystopian fiction are Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" (1932) and George Orwell's "1984" (1949). Both of these writers were influenced by H.G. Wells, but both had far more pessimistic ideas for the future society.Although there are superficial resemblances between "Brave New World" and "1984", they are not really very much different. Huxley pictured a society of the near future in which technology provides all the material comforts required by human beings. There is no pain or illness, but there is also no knowledge and no creativity. Parents no longer give birth in the 'natural' way, instead children are produced in test tubes with designer characteristics depending on their destined social status. Human beings are conditioned from their artificial birth to fulfill a social role in breeding centers. Society is divided into four classes, Alphas, Betas, Gammas and Deltas, each with different breeding, clothing and conditioning to perform different tasks in society. The individual is thus likened to a single cell in the social body, unable to function individually. Unhappiness and emotion are catered for through the prescription of drugs. Criticism of this 'perfect' society comes from the 'Savage' who has been brought up outside the 'New World', and cannot understand this reduced form of human existence, without Shakespeare, without love, without emotion, without individuality.
"Brave New World" has been hugely influential as a warning of the dangers of uncontrolled scientific research. It foresees genetic engineering, cloning, test-tube babies and direct social conditioning through drugs and the media. It foresees the replacement of 'culture and education' by a form of mass entertainment, (crudely, of Shakespeare by Hollywood), and the subsequent loss of affect in human beings, the loss of the critical faculty, the inability to think for oneself.
In George Orwell's "1984" the world is divided into the three super-powers: Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia. Oceania is alternating at war with one power and allied with the other. The population of Oceania consists of three castes: the Inner Party (1%), the Outer Party (14%) and the Proles (85%). The Inner Party is the ruling caste and its sole desire is to gain power, have power, and keep the power - forever. The official face of the party is "Big Brother", an oversized face on posters hanging on walls everywhere and staring from every telescreen, seeming to follow everybody with his eyes. Children are instructed to spy on their parents. Adults like the hero Winston Smith, are employed to rewrite history so that it always show that the dictatorship was right. There is no escape. Any attempt to express oneself as an individual is discovered and the person is brainwashed. At the time when Orwell wrote "1984", it was fashionable for intellectuals to admire Stalinist Russia. They thought of it as the opposite of Nazi Germany. Not long before his death, Orwell published this warning in the hope that people would realize that all dictatorships are basically the same.
Huxley and Orwell are not the only modern writers to have looked into the future and seen disaster. But neither in "Brave New World" nor in "1984" was the atomic bomb responsible. It plays a major part, however, in "The Planet of the Apes" and its sequel (at least as far as the film versions taken from Pierre Boulle's original book are concerned). In Boulle's story there was a planet where apes and men had changed places in society. In the films, however, this theme was linked to that of nuclear war, making them more topical. The astronauts eventually realize that they have returned to Earth to thousand years later. If men have resigned themselves to becoming the slaves of apes it is because of a nuclear catastrophe.
In Greece and Rome the earliest books were written on tablets of wood or pieces of bark covered with wax, and writing was possible upon them with a small stick called "stylus". In Assyria and Babylonia clay tablets were used for writing and the words were drawn with a piece of wood. After baking, the tablets were kept on shelves. They were long-lasting and some of them survived until the present day.
The earliest books of the ancient world were written on papyrus and skins of young animals. These books took the form of a long strip, roiled from one cylinder to another. Though paper has been known in China since the first century, the secret of papermaking came to Europe much later.
Books were popular in ancient Rome: there were many booksellers and the first public library was founded there about 39 B.C.1 Only the rich could buy books or make their slaves copy books from important libraries.
By the time, of the Middle Ages all books were handwritten, beautifully decorated, but they were often chained to the shelves. But only few people could read them.
First printing was invented in China and by the end of the 15th century there were more than 200 presses in Europe . The early printers were not only craftsmen but also editors, publishers and booksellers. The first printing, press in England was set up by William Caxton at Westminster in 1476. and the first printing press in Russia — by Ivan Fedorov in Moscow in 1564.
Early libraries were used only by scientists but latery they were used by the public. In the 19th century a proper system of public libraries appeared. Now most countries have their own national libraries.
Many old university libraries have rich collections of books: Oxford and Cambridge in England, Harvard and Yale in the United States.
Among the great libraries of the world we can name the British Museum Library (the British Library) in London, the Library of Congress in the United States, it's the world's largest Library, Bibliotheque Nationale in France , the Beijing Library in China, the State Public Library in Moscow.
Modern libraries do their best to help people get information as quickly as possible. They use computers and electronic catalogues.Probably the most difficult problem for any library is to keep their books, journals and films.
I want to tell you about reading in my life. Reading plays a very important role in the life of people. I'm fond of reading. In my opinion, books are a source of emotional inspiration and romantic feelings. Reading is very useful, because books enrich our experience with that or the other people. Besides, books help me to continue my own education. The world of books is full of wonders. Reading books you can find, yourself in different lands, countries, islands, seas, oceans. We enjoy the beauty and wisdom of books which teach us to be kind and clever, brave and honesty to understand other people. People are fond of reading different kinds of books. There are books of different genres: love and detective stories, thrillers and historical novels, tales, works after classical and modern writers. Fairy tales are enjoyed and read by children, books about adventures and journeys are enjoyed by those who are fond of travelling. Legends and myths are read by those who are fond of history. I'm a great lover of the English and American literature. Among my favourite writers are W. Shakespeare and Ch. Dickens. Books help us to be good friends. They teach us to understand the beauty of nature, to take care of it, to love our homeland. I read books Russian and Belarusian writers too.
I can't imagine my life without reading. You can find all kinds of books at the library. Every school in our country has a library. A school library is a collection of textbooks and books for reading. Our pupils and teachers go for reading, to look some magazines or newspapers or to prepare for a report.
Books teach us what is right and what is wrong, to understand the world and people in it. It educates a person, enriches his intellect.
"Library is a temple of books", -- somebody said. And I fully agree with these wise words. Every person in our country more than 14 years old, I'm sure, at least once visited a library. The majority of young people has subscriptions to the libraries they like. The libraries not only give us a vast choice of books, but also offer excellent opportunities of having rest.
As you know, I study at the Far-Eastern State University, and I'm very proud that its library is thought to be the one of the largest in Primorye and even the whole Far-East.
Soon after our studies began, we had a course of lectures about the university library. We were told about the rules of using books we take from the library and about its catalogues. Having listened to this course, we passed an examination that showed everything we had learnt.
Soon I had to visit our library the first time as I needed a text book on economics. I went downstairs (as library is situated in the ground floor) and found a room I was searching for. But I didn't get the books immediately as there were many students in the room. So I waited for my turn. I asked the librarian if I could get the book on economical theory. She brought me a book which name was "Modern economics". Than the librarian asked me if I used the library's services for the first time. I answered that it was true, and she suggested me to get a reader's ticket. I was interested to know what documents I had to provide for this. She told that she needed only my photo and some money. Fortunately, I had picture with myself and two minutes later I was an owner of the reader's ticket, which proves that I am a real member of the university library.
So, that is my story about our library. By the way, I want to say you that I was greatly surprised the level of service in it. It was very pleasant to meet kind librarian that was eager to help in everything you ask.
William Somerset Maugham's short stories are very fascinating. Not long ago I've read one of his short stories, it is the story about a man who is very rich, very powerful, very intellegent, very successful in his career and yet he is unhappy. His name is Lord Mountdrago (the story says: he was an able and distinguished man who was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairswhen he was under forty. He was considered the most capable politican in the Conservative Party and for a long time directed the foreign policy of his country).
One day he comes to Dr. Audlin who is a psychotherapist and whose reputation as a psychotherapist is very good. Dr. Audlin seems to be able to help almost everybody (the story says: he could relief certain pains by the touch of his cool, soft hands and by talking to his patients, often induced sleep in those who were suffering from sleeplessness.
He spoke slowly. His voice had no particular color, but it was musical, soft and lulling. Dr. Audlin found that by speaking to people in that low monotonous voice of his, by looking at them with his pale, quiet eyes, by stroking their foreheads with his long firm hands he could sometimes do things that seemed miraculous).
Lord Mountdrago had a strange dreams.They get on his nerves. And he was afraid that he will go mad or commit suicide if it would go on like that every night. He said that his decision can affect the welfare of the country.
When Dr. Audlin askes to describe one of his dreams, he begins: "the first dream I had was about a month ago. I dreamt that i was at a party at Connemara House. It was an official party. The King and the Queen were to be there and many prominent people too. Suddenly I saw a little man there called Owen Griffiths, who is a member of parlament from the Labour Party and to tell you the truth, I was surprised to see him there. The Connemaras were at the top of a marble staircase receiving their guests... Suddenly I noticed that the King and the Queen had come, turned my back on the Connemaras and understood that I had got my trousers on. You can't understand what i felt at that moment, an agony of shame. I awoke in a cold sweat and understood what it was only a dream".
Dr. Audlin can't diagnose the case and soon he learns that Lord Mountrago has ruined his opponent in the House of Commons. Whose name is Owen Griffiths. He did it cruelly and mercilessly. His conscience protested that injury he caused to Griffiths. The story has a tragic end. Lord Mountdrago is unable to get rid of his terrible dreams. He commits suicide. His antagonist suddenly dies too. The newspaper wrote that his death was supposed to be due to natural reason but we know that his death was supernaturally conditioned by Lord Mountdrago's tragic end.
In conclusion we come to after having read that supernational forces effect our lives. No matter how sensitive or insensitive we might be to them. Thus the moral of the story is that doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man's life.
Books about voyages and new discoveries were very popular in the first quater of the 18th century, there were written many stories of this kind but while Defoe was busy with politics he didn't think of also trying his hand at it. However one story in Steel magazine attracted his attention.
It was about a Scottish sailor, who lived alone 4 years and 4 months on a desert island. However, Defoe's hero, Robinson Crusoe, spend 26 years on a desert island. The novel was a praise of human labour and the triumph the men over nature. Labour and fortitude helped Robinson to endure hardships. They saved him from dispair. The very process of hard work gave him satisfaction. Robinson's most characteristic trait is his optimism.
This school-year at our English outside reading lessons we had read many interesting stories about Robin Hood. The most interesting story is a story about Golden Arrow. In the 11th century England was conquered by the Normans who had come from the North of France. They began to take away lands and homes from the Saxons, the native population of the British Islands. The Saxons suffered very much from the Normans and hated their new masters. Many of them had to run away into the forests and to become outlaws. There are many legends and songs about one of these outlaws – Robin Hood. Robin Hood with his 300 men, so the legends say, lived in the Sherwood Forest, not far from the town of Nottingham. He often attacked the rich Normans, but he was a friend of the poor and helped them as much, as he could. The Sheriff of Nottingham wanted to catch Robin Hood. He journeyed to London to ask Prince John for help. Prince John said him that it was his task and he had to deal with it quickly. The Sheriff did not argue and went back to Nottingham, angrier than ever. He was worried by what Prince John had said. As he was not a brave man, his thoughts soon turned to trickery. He decided to have a shooting match and hoped that Robin Hood and his men would appear there to try their luck. He decided to make a beautiful gold arrow as the prize for the best archer. He was right: when the news of the golden arrow travelled to Sherwood, Robin decided to enter the competition. But his friend David said him that it was only a trick of the Sheriff. Then Little John, Robin's great friend said that he had a plan. He suggested to dress in different colours, because Sheriff expected to see them in green. Thus, dressed in many colours Robin Hood and his men went to Nottingham. The sheriff was actually looking for people in green. He thought Robin Hood was a coward and did not come. The archery started and Robin Hood was better than all the rest, and won the golden arrow. Some days later the Sheriff was seated at his dinner table and boasting that Robin was afraid to show his face in Nottingham. Suddenly through the window flew in an arrow. It hit the big fat goose. It had a message. The Sheriff read the message and understood that once again Robin Hood had outwitted him.
Reading plays a very important role in the life of people. It educates a person, enriches his intellect. Books help to mould a person's character, form his moral values. Besides, books bring pleasure and delight. It's a wonderful way to spend spare time. Sometimes we read the same book again and again. Thanks to books we learn to express our thoughts and feelings more exactly. The book is a faithful and understanding friend. It can be put aside and taken up again at any moment. There are books which have been our favorites since childhood. People are fond of reading different kinds of books. Some people enjoy reading detective stories, adventure stories, novels, biographies, other prefer classics. Fairy tales are enjoyed and read by children, books about adventures and journeys are enjoyed by those who are fond of travelling. Legends and myths are read by those who are fond of history. Some people developed much time to reading books and reading becomes their free time occupation, their passion.
Through out the centuries books had an enormous influence on the minds and hearts of people. Books bind together ages, personalities. Thanks to books we can talk to people who lived in different countries and ages. Through reading books we hear their voices, thoughts and feelings. The book is the surest way to bring nations together. It helps people achieve understanding, trust, cooperation and friendship. Books awaken young readers' imagination. They develop literary taste, arouse interest and curiosity, the reader's laugher as well as his tears. They teach the readers to be truthful, friendly, honest decisive, conscientious, frank, firm, fair and serious.
Libraries play an important part in the cultural development of people. People like reading, they have a desire to learn, they seek for knowledge. Books sate this desire. There are a lot of books in our country, in our flats. But it is difficult to buy all the books which we want to read. That is why we get books in public libraries. Books shouldn't be read only for pleasure. Reading books helps us in our education. We can fond all kinds of books in the libraries. Books offer romance, history, adventure, autobiographies, science fiction and humor in the form of shot stories and novels, poetry, prose and plays as well as reference books, encyclopaedias, dictionaries and so on. In some libraries we can find books in many foreign languages. When a reader comes to a library for the first time he fills in his library card and the librarian helps him to choose something to read. The reader is allowed to borrow books for a certain number of days. The catalogues help the reader to find the books. We should not make notes in library books or dog's ears in the pages. The reading rooms in the public libraries are open to all who wish to work there. Except books we can get periodical newspapers and magazines to read there. Readers come to reading rooms to study and prepare materials for their reports or for their scientific work.
Every school in our country has a library. A school library is a collection of textbooks and books for reading. Our pupils and teachers go there to read, to find some magazines or newspapers or to prepare for a report. Sometimes teachers prepare for lessons at our school library.
My favourite literary character is Eliza Doolittle. Eliza is one of the principal characters of "Pygmalion", Bernard Shaw's famous comedy. Eliza, a girl of eighteen, comes from the lowest social level and speaks with a strong Cockney accent. She makes her own living by selling flowers in the streets of London. One day she accidentally meets Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics. Higgins makes an agreement with his friend Pickering that he will pass Eliza off as a duchess in six months. Eliza and Higgins work hard at the girl's manners and pronunciation. Finally, before six months are over, she is well prepared to be introduced into society. Higgins and Pickering take her to the races, a dinner party, and the Queen's dancing party. Everything goes well and Higgins wins his bet. But what is to become of Eliza now when the game is over? She cannot go back to selling flowers in the street. She has acquired some culture, and she wants to do useful work. She wants independence and her share of respect. I admire Eliza's quick wit and sense of humour, her moral strength and integrity. The character of Eliza shows how much force and talent lies undeveloped in common people.
My favourite book is "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe.
Written by buxdu.uzD. Defoe (1660—1731) was a great master of realistic detail. The novel "Robinson Crusoe" was written in 1719. The novel is praise to human labour and the triumph of man over nature. Defoe shows the development of his hero. At the beginning of the story we see an unexperienced youth, a rather frivolous boy, who then becomes a strong-willed man.
Robinson Crusoe's most characteristic trait is his optimism. His guiding principle in life become "never say die" and "in trouble to be troubled is to have your troubles doubled". He had confidence in himself and in man. He believed it was within the power of man to overcome all difficulties. Crusoe was an enthusiastic worker and always hoped for the best.
Defoe is a writer of the Enlightenment. He teaches people how to live, he tries to teach what's good and what's bad.
His novel "Robinson Crusoe" is not only a work of fiction, an account of adventures, a biography and an educational pamphlet. It is a study of man, a great work showing man in relation to nature and civilization as well as in relation to labour and private property.
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I've recently read a book which has made a very deep impression on me. It's called Gone with the Wind and it makes really unforgettable reading. The author of the book is Margaret Mitchell. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family of the president of the Atlanta Historical Society. All the family were interested in American history and she grew up in an atmosphere of stories about the Civil War.
After graduating from college Margaret Mitchell worked for a time for the Atlanta Journal. In 1925 she got married. In the following ten years she put on paper all the stories she had heard about the Civil War. The result was Gone with the Wind. It was first published in 1936 and became the talking point of all America. In 1939 it was made into a highly successful film. Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable played the leading roles. Vivien Leigh won the Oscar. Everyone loved her high-spirited and beautiful heroine, Scarlett O'Hara.
The story is set around the time of the American Civil War (1861-65) when the Southern States went to war with the North to defend their way of life. It was a way of life in which rich gentry lived in large houses and owned huge areas of land, cultivated by black slaves. Scarlett O'Hara was born into one of these rich houses. When this way of life was destroyed and all her family's wealth taken away by the advancing Northerners, the spoilt, willful Scarlet had to grow up and use all her wit and intelligence — and beauty — to build a new life.
But Gone with the Wind is also about a love triangle. While Scarlett loves the quiet, gentlemanly Ashley Wilkes, the wild and decidedly ungentlemanly Rhett Butler is in love with her. After Ashley marries someone else, and after many adventures of her own, Scarlett does marry Rhett — but only for money.
The marriage is stormy and eventually Rhett walks out on her, but by that time Scarlett has realized that she loves him after all. Scarlett thinks of some way of getting him back, but we never know if she does.
Margaret Mitchell never wrote a sequel to answer this burning question.
She died in 1949 in a car crash.
In 1991 a publishing company asked Alexandra Ripley, a historical novelist to do the job. Her novel Scarlett was not in the same class as the original. Critics have been writing very bad reviews of Scarlett, but the book is popular with the public.
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