《台灣的海洋歷史與文化》The Man Who Laughs" (also translated as "By Order of the King") is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869.

台灣，位於世界貿易航線的交會處，其歷史從來沒有脫離過海洋的影響。

從史前時期的南島語族航海遷徙、17世紀因海洋貿易而進入歷史時代，18世紀伴隨漢人移民的拓展，台灣逐漸轉型為多元融合的社會；19世紀下半葉，隨著國際勢力的介入與開港通商，台灣面臨更加多樣而劇烈的政經變遷。

可以說，無論是不同時代的政經局勢，還是當今的地緣政治挑戰，台灣的歷史都與海洋緊密相連。

在《#台灣的海洋歷史與文化》一書中，作者戴寶村老師以個人成長經驗，以及透過產業、航路、移民、港市，乃至信仰和文化等多個面向，為台灣勾勒出一個清晰的海洋史圖像。

本書不僅揭示了台灣人與海洋的深刻連結，也幫助我們在當今瞬息萬變的國際情勢中，找到一個有意義的歷史坐標。

#島嶼台灣 #海洋史 #歷史的參考座標

The Man Who Laughs" (also translated as "By Order of the King") is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869. The book is a dark romantic work, set in late 17th-century England, and combines elements of gothic fiction with a deep exploration of social injustice and the human condition.

The story begins with the tragic tale of a young boy named Gwynplaine, who is disfigured by a group of comprachicos — criminals who alter children's appearances to make them amusements for the rich. They carve his face into a permanent grin, which leads to his grotesque appearance. Abandoned on a winter's night, Gwynplaine rescues a blind baby girl, Dea, and they are taken in by the kind-hearted showman Ursus.

Gwynplaine grows up to become a popular stage performer due to his disfigurement, with audiences both horrified and amused by his grin. Despite his fame, he is haunted by his past and the nature of his existence. Dea and Gwynplaine develop a deep bond, with her blindness preventing her from seeing his disfigurement and allowing her to love him for his true self.

The novel takes a dramatic turn when Gwynplaine discovers that he is actually the son of a nobleman who was betrayed by King James II. His title and estates had been unjustly stripped from his family, leading to his father's death and his own mutilation. Gwynplaine is then restored to his rightful place in the House of Lords, but he finds the world of the aristocracy to be shallow and corrupt, a stark contrast to the honest life he led with Ursus and Dea.

Gwynplaine is torn between his love for Dea and his duties as a nobleman, as well as his desire to use his new position to speak out against the injustices he sees. Ultimately, Gwynplaine rejects his title and returns to Dea, only to find that the shock and stress of his experiences have taken a toll on her health.

The novel concludes with a poignant and tragic ending, as Gwynplaine decides to take his own life after finding that Dea has died. He throws himself into the sea, choosing to be reunited with her in death rather than live in a world filled with cruelty and hypocrisy.

"The Man Who Laughs" is a profound critique of social and political systems that create and perpetuate inequality and suffering. Hugo uses Gwynplaine's disfigurement as a symbol of the way society treats those who are different or disadvantaged.

The novel is a powerful indictment of a world that values appearance and status over genuine human connection and moral integrity. Hugo's rich storytelling and vivid characterizations make "The Man Who Laughs" a compelling read and a significant work in the canon of classic literature.

Book:[ad]https://amzn.to/3weXMWd

303