戴维·阿特伍德

以扣人心弦的笔法诉说身兼小偷、人质狭持者、精神病与游民等多重身份的男子史都华一生的故事除了描绘他前科累累、放荡不羈的鲜活人生，也藉此带出了英国下层社会有关暴力、毒品、监狱与犯罪等令人震撼的面貌，以极度真实而又几近残酷的写实手法，刻画出史都华失败潦倒的一生。但令人惊喜的是，作者与史都华都未以悲伤或自怜的口气来诉说哀伤的生命片段，反而能以充满趣味的口吻娓娓道来，使得整本书在浓鬱的哀愁中，却洋溢著活泼生动的韵律，是这部作品最奇特、也最具吸引力的地方。

The ship has been stuck in the doldrums for some time, but as soon as they break free into more promising water, the wind blows up suddenly, damaging the foremast and sending the ship right back into the still water. Mr Prettiman takes a hard fall and is laid up in his cabin, Miss Granham tends to him and the two announce their engagement.                                                                    A ship is sighted in the distance. As everyone prepares for the encounter with the enemy Edmund hits his head. He is badly hurt, but struggles on. The ships draw close, but instead of bringing an encounter with the enemy, it is The Alcyone, a British ship captained by Sir Henry Somerset, they announce that the war is over.                                                                    The two boats are tied together for a ball. Edmund meets Sir Henry's ward, Marion, and immediately falls in love. But his head injury takes its toll and he falls unconcious just as he was going to beg for her hand. After some days he finally recovers, but the two ships have parted and Marion is gone.                                                                    Edmund's servant Wheeler was on board the Alcyone. He had spent four days in the water after going overboard and had finally been spotted, rescued by the crew and eventually returned to the original ship. As they sail on, there is yet more damage as part of the keel falls from the ship. The passengers start to panic, convinced it will sink. Edmund finds Wheeler in his cabin with a gun, after his last scrape with death he is terrified of drowning, and he shoots himself.                                                                    一个有点可笑的年轻人在探索世界的同时自己也得到了成长。