英語名人堂：海倫·凱勒

海倫·凱勒(Helen Keller，1880年6月27日-1968年6月1日)，著名的美國女作家、教育家、慈善家、社會活動家。在十九個月時因患急性胃充血、腦充血而被奪去視力和聽力。1899年6月考入哈佛大學拉德克利夫女子學院。1968年6月1日逝世，享年88歲，卻有87年生活在無光、無聲的世界里。在此時間里，她先后完成了14本著作。其中最著名的有：《假如給我三天光明》《我的人生故事》《石墻故事》。她致力于為殘疾人造福，建立了許多慈善機構(gòu)，1964年榮獲“總統(tǒng)自由勛章”，次年入選美國《時代周刊》評選“二十世紀美國十大英雄偶像”之一。

《假如給我三天光明》是美國當代著名作家海倫·凱勒的代表作。該書的前半部分主要寫了海倫變成盲聾人后的生活，后半部分則介紹了海倫的求學生涯。同時也介紹她體會不同的豐富多彩的生活以及她的慈善活動等等。她以一個身殘志堅的柔弱女子的視角，告誡身體健全的人們應(yīng)珍惜生命，珍惜造物主賜予的一切。另外，《我的人生故事》是海倫·凱勒的自傳性作品，被世界稱為文學史上無與倫比的杰作。

Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college. From an early age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiration to millions.

Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.

In 1886, her mother read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided to seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used it to learn French, German and Greek.

Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleep in 1968,aged 87.