这部小说以家庭生活为描写对象，以家庭成员的感情纠葛为线索，描写了马奇一家的天伦之爱。马奇家的四姐妹中，无论是为了爱情甘于贫困的海格，还是通过自己奋斗成为作家的乔，以及坦然面对死亡的贝思和以扶弱为己任的艾米，虽然她们的理想和命运都不尽相同，但是她们都具有自强自立的共同特点。描写了她们对家庭的眷恋；对爱的忠诚以及对亲情的渴望。

名著阅读

CHAPTER ONE第一章

PLAYING PILGRIMS 朝圣

As young readers like to know 'how people look', we will take this moment to give them a little sketch of the four sisters, who sat knitting away in the twilight, while the December snow fell quietly without, and the fire crackled cheerfully within. It was a comfortable room, though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain, for a good picture or two hung on the walls, books filled the recesses, chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows, and a pleasant atmosphere of home peace pervaded it.

由于年轻的读者们喜欢知道“人物样貌"，我们趁此机会把坐在黄昏的余辉下做针线活儿的四姐妹概略描述一下。此时屋外的冬雪正轻轻飘落，屋内炉火噼啪欢响。虽然这间旧房子铺着褪了色的地毯，摆设也相当简单，但却显得十分舒适：墙上挂着一两幅雅致的图画，壁凹内堆满了书本，窗台上是绽放的菊花和圣诞花，屋里洋溢着一片宁静、温馨的气氛。

Margaret, the eldest of the four, was sixteen, and very pretty, being plump and fair, with large eyes, plenty of soft brown hair, a sweet mouth, and white hands, of which she was rather vain. Fifteen- year-old Jo was very tall, thin, and brown, and reminded one of a colt, for she never seemed to know what to do with her long limbs, which were very much in her way. She had a decided mouth, a comical nose, and sharp, gray eyes, which appeared to see everything, and were by turns fierce, funny, or thoughtful. Her long, thick hair was her one beauty, but it was usually bundled into a net, to be out of her way. Round shoulders had Jo, big hands and feet, a flyaway look to her clothes, and the uncomfortable appearance of a girl who was rapidly shooting up into a woman and didn't like it.

大姐玛格丽特，十六岁，出落得十分标致。她体态丰盈，肌肤洁白，大大的眼睛，甜甜的笑容，一头棕色秀发又浓又厚，双手白皙，这令她颇为自得。十五岁的乔身材修长，皮肤黝黑，见了使人想到一匹小公马，因为她修长的四肢相当碍事，她仿佛总是不知道该如何处置它们。她嘴巴刚毅，鼻子俊俏，灰色的眼睛异常敏锐，似乎能看穿一切，眼神时而炽烈，时而风趣，时而又像在沉思。浓密的长发使她显得特别美丽，但为了方便长发通常被她束入发网。她双肩圆润，大手大脚，穿着又宽又大的衣服。正迅速长成一个成熟的女性，心里却极不愿，因此常常流露出这个阶段的女孩所特有的尴尬神情。

词汇释义

1.sketch n. 素描, 草图, 概述, 小品

At the meeting he give a sketch of recent happenings.
会上他简述了最近发生的事件。

2.twilight ['twailait] n. 黄昏, 微光, 含糊不清, 衰落时期

She often sits in the garden at twilight.
黄昏时分她常常坐在花园里。

3.crackle ['krækl] n. 劈啪响, 裂纹 v. 发劈啪声

A cheerful wood fire was crackling in the sitting room.
熊熊的柴火在起居室的炉中噼啪作响。

4.recess [ri'ses] n. 幽深处, 凹缝, 壁龛

I push the problem down into the dim recess of my mind.
我把这个问题藏到内心深处, 不去多想它。

5.chrysanthemum n. 菊, 菊花

It was a special tea which tasted of chrysanthemum.
它是一种有菊花味的特别茶叶。

6.plump adj. 丰满的, 丰富的

She has a plump figure.
她有着丰满的身材。

7.vain adj. 自负的；爱慕虚荣的

She is vain and foolish, and yet people like her.
她自负而愚蠢, 然而人们喜欢她。

8.colt n. 小马, 无经验的年轻人

This colt is only two months old.
这只小雄驹只有两个月大。

9.comical adj. 好笑的, 滑稽的

He looked highly comical wearing that tiny hat.
他戴上那顶小帽子, 看上去很滑稽。