《高级英语》 精品课程 第一册 制作人： 徐李洁

Unit Fourteen Argentia Bay

Herman Wouk

Objectives of teaching

1) To learn words and expressions;2) To appreciate the narrative style3) To know the historical background of the story4) To appreciate the humor of the writer

I. About the Author

• Herman Wouk: American novelist, A Pulitzer Prize winner. • Famous works: THE WINDS of WAR (1971) and WAR and

REMEMBRANCE (1977).

• Pulitzer Prize: founded by Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911), American newspaper publisher who gave Columbia University $2,000,000 in 1903 for the creation of the Columbia School of Journalism and also the Prizes. Today there are Pulitzer Prizes for distinguished works in American fiction, drama, history, biography and autobiography, nonfiction, poetry and music.

II. About the Book

• The Winds of War: The story is a fiction with the main character, Pug Victor Henry being a mid-rank officer who witnesses all the major events during World War

• A novelty of this fiction is, with the ongoing of the story itself, an imaginary reminiscences by a German strategist was put in at intervals of chapters. That is to say, every a couple of chapters into the novel, an episode of that reminiscences was quoted to provide an opposite-side view of the war situation, which enables the reader to view the historical events with and all-round angle.

• Lend-lease:• Lend-lease: An agreement by which the United States lent or

leased arms and military supplies, etc. to British and other powers during W.W. II (in some cases in return for the use of certain base, etc. ). The Lend-Lease Act was passed by Congress on 11 March 1941, and terminated on 22 August 1945. During this period the U.S.A. spent about 12, 000,000,000 and received back about $1, 836,000,000. Over 60% of the total went to the British Commonwealth.

Questions:• What was the book about?• Where and when did the story take place?• Who were the main characters?• What was the author showing through the story?• Who told the story?• What do you think of the book?

Question for discussion

• Why did the part about free trade and independence for all peoples mean the end of the British Empire?