英国作家查尔斯 · 狄更斯的一批未公开的书信首次被展出，其中一些信件表明他深知自己的名气。这 11 封信揭示了这位作家的阅读习惯、写作计划以及他因周日邮政服务被取消而心感沮丧。

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，查尔斯·狄更斯因周日邮政服务被取消而扬言要搬离他在英格兰肯特郡居住的区域。“这项拟议的限制将使我受到束缚。” 他在一封首次公开的书信中写道：“我认为这会迫使我搬离这里。”

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.

他在信中还提到，他认为同住在肯特郡海厄姆的街坊邻居会因失去他而难过。查尔斯·狄更斯博物馆的一位策展人艾米莉·邓巴说，这封信很好地例证了作者所展现的自高自大，并深知自己名声在外。

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.

在英国国家遗产纪念基金、英国艺术基金会、英国国家图书馆之友和狄更斯联谊会的帮助下，查尔斯·狄更斯博物馆获得了300多件展品，其中包括首次被展出的11封书信。

词汇表

threatened 扬言要
hampered 阻碍，妨碍
made public 公布于众
self-importance 自大
awareness 意识，知道
correspondence 信件

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

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.