西尔薇与布鲁诺 (1889)

西尔薇与布鲁诺是路易斯·卡罗一生最后出版的小说。1889年第一版出版，而第二集西尔薇与布鲁诺完结篇1893年出版。两集都由Harry Furniss绘制插画。

小说主要有两套情节：第一情节是设定在出版时的现实时空 （维多利亚时期），另一套情节发生在名为Fairyland的奇幻世界。后者的情节主要有很多废话元素和诗歌的童话故事，类似卡罗的另一本书爱丽丝系列。设定为维多利亚时期英国的故事是社会小说剧中人物讨论多样的概念，以及关于宗教、社会、哲学以及道德。

相关文献

Carroll, Lewis. The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works. Gramercy Books. 1982. ISBN 0-517-14781-5.

Carroll, Lewis. Ray Dyer , 编. Sylvie and Bruno with Sylvie and Bruno Concluded: An Annotated Scholar’s Edition 1–2. Kibworth: Trouvador. 2015. ISBN 978-1-78462-397-5.

Sylvie and Bruno, first published in 1889, and its second volume Sylvie and Bruno Concluded published in 1893, form the last novel by Lewis Carroll published during his lifetime. Both volumes were illustrated by Harry Furniss.

The novel has two main plots: one set in the real world at the time the book was published (the Victorian era), the other in the fantasy world of Fairyland. While the latter plot is a fairy tale with many nonsense elements and poems, similar to Carroll's Alice books, the story set in Victorian Britain is a social novel, with its characters discussing various concepts and aspects of religion, society, philosophy and morality.

Origin

Two short pieces, "Fairy Sylvie" and "Bruno's Revenge", originally appeared in Aunt Judy's Magazine in 1867. Some years later, in 1873 or 1874, Carroll had the idea to use these as the core for a longer story. Much of the rest of the novel he compiled from notes of ideas and dialogue which he had collected over the years (and which he called "litterature" in the introduction to the first volume).

Carroll initially intended for the novel to be published in one volume. However, due to its length, it was divided into two volumes, published in 1889 and 1893.

The novel is not nearly as well known as the Alice books. It was very poorly received and did not have many reprintings; modern commentators note that it lacks much of Carroll's characteristic humour. The poem The Mad Gardener's Song, widely reprinted elsewhere, is the best-known part of the book.

The introductory poem contains a double acrostic on the name "Isa Bowman", one of Carroll's child friends.

Plot summary and major themes

Plot overview

There are two strands to the plot: the conspiracy against the Warden of Outland, instigated by the Sub-Warden and Chancellor, and the love of a young doctor, Arthur, for Lady Muriel.

Conspiracy in Outland; Arthur and Lady Muriel

Chapter 1

The narrator is in his spacious breakfast-saloon, high above the noisy public square. The Chancellor has hired a mob to put on a ”spontaneous" protest, but the rioters seem confused whether to chant for more or less of bread and taxes. Bruno enters, looking for Sylvie, but he ends up on the Chancellor's knee with Sylvie, listening to the Warden's report of the Professor's return from his travels in search of health. In the Library the Professor tells them about his troubles with barometric and "horizontal weather" issues.

Chapter 2

The narrator finds himself in a train compartment, which a veiled young lady has just entered. He is on his way to see Arthur, a doctor friend, for a consultation; he rereads Arthur's letter, and absent-mindedly repeats out loud its last line, "Do you believe in Fate?" The lady laughs, and a conversation ensues. The scene changes abruptly to the breakfast-saloon, in which the Professor is explaining his plunge-bath invention to the Sub-Warden, his wife, her son, the Chancellor, Warden, Sylvie, and Bruno.

Chapter 3

The Chancellor tries to persuade the Warden to elevate the Sub-Warden to Vice-Warden. The Warden asks the Sub-Warden for a private talk. The Sub-Warden's wife asks the Professor about his Lecture, suggesting a Fancy Dress Ball. He gives Sylvie a birthday present: a pincushion. Uggug throws butter over Sylvie. The Sub-Warden distracts his wife by saying a pig is in the garden; the Chancellor drags Uggug out by his ear.

Chapter 4

The Warden agrees to the changes. After he has signed the Agreement and left (to become Monarch of Fairyland), the Chancellor, Vice-Warden and his wife laugh about how they have deceived him, the document having been altered at the last minute to give the Vice-Warden dictatorial powers. A beggar appears beneath the window; Uggug and his mother throw water over him. Bruno tries to throw him some food, but he has gone.

Chapter 5