Acknowledgements

After the accomplishment of my book, I realize that my gratitude and debt are manifold. First and foremost, I am deeply indebted to my supervisor Li Weiping and co-supervisor Wang Xiaoling. It must be evident from the first that I owe so much to my supervisor Li Weiping for all his invaluable suggestions, encouragement and kindness. I am much obliged to my co-supervisor Wang Xiaoling for her stimulating talks, patient hearing and careful instruction. They have offered me great help from the very beginning till the last second, from correcting the minor mistakes to making big amendment. Without their enlightening instructions and insightful suggestions, the completion of my book would have been impossible. Their enormous contributions in time and expertise have gained my deepest respect. As strict and wise supervisors, they have impressed me deeply.

I am also very grateful to Professors Yu Jianhua, Qiao Guoqiang, Shi Zhikang, Mei Deming, Feng Qinghua, Yu Dongming, and Xu Yulong for their generous encouragement, constant help and excellent lectures. I would like to express my special thanks to Professor Wei Xiaohong who gives me great help and encouragement.

I would like to express my heart-felt gratitude to all the colleagues in the School of Foreign Languages of Handan College and to those whose works have inspired the contents of the book. I am also thankful to all my friends who give me great support and encouragement during my book writing. I have to thank the Library of Shanghai International Studies University for the chief sources of information about Jane Austen.

My heartfelt thanks go to my parents, my husband and my daughter whom I owe a lot. They give me great spiritual support and concern which encourage me to overcome various difficulties and to persist in my book writing.