Brooklyn

EilisLaceyisayoungwomanwhoisunabletofindworkin1950sIreland.HeroldersisterRoseorganizesameetingwithFatherFloodvisitingfromNewYork.HetellsEilisofthewonderfulopportunitiesawaitingherwithverygoodemploymentprospects.BecauseofthissheemigratestoNewYorkandtakesupajobinadepartmentstoreandundertakesnightclassesinbook-keeping.Herinitialexperiencesinaboringjobandlivinginarepressiveboardinghouse,runbythestrictMadgeKehoe,makeherhavegravedoubtsaboutherdecision.LettersfromRoseandherbrotherareinitiallyupsettingbutsoonshebeginstosettleintoaroutine.EilismeetsandfallsinlovewithayoungItalianplumbercalledTonyatthelocalFridaynightdancesorganizedbyFatherFlood.ThisleadstoherfirstsexualencounterandsomesocialconsequencesastheyareoverheardbyMrsKehoe.Shequalifieseasilyfromhernightschoolcourse.HerrelationshipevolvesfurtherandTonyproposesmarriageandallowsEilistomeethisfamily.OnedayassheisworkinginBrooklynshereceivesavisitfromFatherFloodinformingherthatRosehasdiedinhersleepfromapre-existingheartcondition.ShehastoreturntoIrelandtomournandmarriesTonysecretlybeforesheleaves.InIrelandshefallsbackintothevillagesocietyeasilyandstartsabriefrelationshipwithJimFarrell,alocalbusinessman,towhomshehadbeenattractedbeforeemigrating.HermotherisdesperateforhertosettlebackinIrelandandmarryJim.Eilisdoesnotconfideinherfamilyorfriendsabouthermarriage.Eilisprocrastinatesaboutareturntohernewlifebyextendingherstayandfindingatemporaryjob.ShesavesTony'slettersunopenedthinkingattimesthatshenolongerloveshim.Eventuallyalocalbusybody,MissKelly,tellsEilissheknowshersecretbecauseMadgeKehoeishercousinandsomehowthestoryisoutinNewYork.ThisistheturningpointforEilisandsheimmediatelybooksherreturnpassage,tellshermotherthewholetruthandpostsafarewellnotetoJimassheleavestownbytaxiforthedocks.1950年代，在爱尔兰东南部的小镇上是很难找到工作的。小说主人公Eilis当然也难以拒绝来自美国的工作要约，她前往布鲁克林开始了新生活。尽管她年轻、思乡又孤独，但她依旧很快融入了新生活的节奏中——白天在大型百货公司收银，晚上在布鲁克林大学上夜校，周末晚上去牧区本堂跳舞，她逐渐找到了另一种幸福感。但坏消息传来，召唤她回爱尔兰；于是她陷入了两难：在彼岸的爱和幸福与故乡的承诺间，该如何取舍。