やさしい英語会話 (346) What's a Good Novel?

Hiroshima University's English Podcast

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今回は、ちょっと変わった小説家と編集者の会話です。この小説家が執筆した小説、出版するにはちょっと問題がありそうです…。
番組ではJoeとKeiが読んだおすすめの本をご紹介します。春休み中の学生さんも、そうでない皆さんも、この機会に読書はいかがでしょうか？
　
*** It's a Good Expression ***
（今回の重要表現）
Dirty Thoughts
汚れた考え
※以下、dirty関連の表現も含め、性的な含みが感じられる。
we publish books for youth
私たちは青少年向けの本を出版しています。
ideals
理想
They got dirty in the mud from head to toe.
二人は頭の先からかかとまで泥の中で汚れた。
mattress
マットレス
inappropriate
不適切な
count
伯爵
countess
伯爵婦人
alcove
小部屋、床の間
petals
花びら
silk pillows
シルクの枕
version
版、バージョン
*** Script ***
What’s a Good Novel?
A little-known, strange writer comes to a publishing house and has an interview with a female editor. She can decide whether to publish his books or not.
W: Well, Mr. Smith, I’ve read your new novel, called “Dirty Thoughts.”
M: Have you? So how do you like it?
W: Well, you should understand that we publish books for youth. We must grow ideals of pure love in young people.
M: My novel is EXACTLY about what you say… about relations…
W: Indeed, there are some very interesting parts. But first, take a look at what you write … “It was a dark rainy day…”
M: Hm…
W: “… They got dirty in the mud from head to toe on their way back to their poor and dirty home…he fell on a dirty mattress and he, without taking his dirty boots off….”
M: Oh, yes! That’s the exciting part! What’s wrong?
W: Dirty boots?! No way! That’s inappropriate!
M: But I can rewrite it… For example: “It was a warm sunny day…”
W: Perfect!
M: “… a count and a countess entered an alcove…”
W: Oh, an alcove ¬– that’s amazing!
M: “…He covered the bed with rose petals…”
W: Yes, fantastic…
M: “…the countess fell on silk pillows. The count took off his boots…”
W: Yes. That’s what I want! Let’s print this one!
M: And then they…
W: Stop, stop, stop! We are not going to rewrite anything after that. After that everything goes right actually. After that part everything must be the same as in the original version.
(Written by Andrei Goncharov)