内容简介:《最漫长的行程》一书主要讲述了两对夫妇、两个爱情故事和一段史诗传奇,作者通过人物对自己经历、情感的自述，对人物形象，进行整体的塑造，同时将这两段爱情故事展现给读者。91岁的艾拉·莱文森身处困境,他竭力在车祸后保持头脑清醒，但却慢慢丧失意识，甚至看见了去世多年的爱妻露丝回到他身边。他的妻子鼓励他要活下去，爱意盈盈地讲述他们曾经在一起的快乐与悲伤——他们初见时的浪漫情景、二战爆发时的黑暗年代、以及无情的战争对家庭造成的影响。 而几英里之外，大学学生索菲娅的生活也面临剧变。艾拉和露丝、索菲和卢克，这两对情侣本该因年龄和阅历的差距而互无交集，但他们的生活却通过最出人意料、最震撼人心的方式融汇相通。

本次选取了该书中的第一、二、三章进行翻译。第一章，主要由艾拉讲述自己遭遇了严重的车祸，在迷迷糊糊的时候，他看见他的妻子出现在了自己的身旁，鼓励自己坚持下去，两人一起回忆了过去的种种，在回忆中，艾拉介绍了自己的生活背景，他的父亲的人生观、价值观对他的人生的一些影响，露丝的身份背景，以及露丝父亲对她的影响，两个人共同回忆了初见时的美好，同时艾拉讲述了自己父母之间的相处，母亲是接受过教育的知识分子，而父亲只是个裁缝店，本就充满差异的一对，却能一直和睦相伴到老。而他与露丝之间，虽然随着时间的推移，他们之间的爱情不再那么强烈，但是仍然爱着对方。

    第二章，主要是由索菲讲述自己与布莱恩再次分手之后，在舍友的劝导之下，去参加了自己从不愿参加的聚会，因为不适应聚会上的氛围，索菲独自走开，但是，她却碰到了自己最不想见到的人，布莱恩，布莱恩的出现，让索菲很烦躁，布莱恩一直跟着她，所幸，后来，卢克出现，帮助索菲亚脱离了布莱恩的骚扰，而此时的索菲亚，对卢克，心中有了不一样的感觉。

    第三章，是卢克的自述，他去参加骑牛比赛，但母亲却强烈反对，但只是他从小的爱好。初见索菲亚时，正巧碰到她被布莱恩所困扰，卢克本不想管这闲事，但他还是走了过去，在布莱恩离去之后，他和索菲亚一起聊了聊天，他问了问索菲亚几年级了，在聊天的过程中得知了她的名字，家庭，他也聊了聊自己骑牛的经历，去到过的地方，这让他对自己眼前的这一女子有了别样的情绪。

INTRODUCTION: The Longest Ride, which focuses on two couples and love stories, through the characters their own read-me about their experiences and emotions, it gives an overall shape, and it will show this two love stories to readers. 91-year-old Ira is suffered and he tries his best to keep a clear head after the accident, but he slowly loses consciousness, and even sees his wife, Ruth, who has passed away for a long time, but returned back to his side. His wife encouraged him to move on and live his full life, narrating the happiness and sorrows when they are together----the romantic moment when they meet each other at the first time, dark ages at the outbreak of World War II, as well as the brutal impact the war has on their families. At the same time, a few miles away, university student Sophia’s life is facing some changes. These two couples should have been mutually disjoint due to the gap between ages and experiences, but their lives are integrated and communicated through the most unexpected but powerful way.

   This practice chooses three chapters to translate. The first chapter is mainly said by Ira, he talks about himself that he is suffered from a serious accident, when he is in a daze, he sees his wife, who appears to encourage him. They are together to recall back to the wonderful time when they meet each other at the first time. By telling this, Ira states about his and Ruth’s background, what impacts his father’s values has had on him. Also, he says something about the love between his father and mother, they are different in the level of education, but they live together until the last minute. Ruth and Ira, they also love each other, although it may not be as strong as before as time goes on.

   The second chapter is stated by Sophia, who tells about the things that happened when she has broken up again with Brian. Persuaded by her roommate, she attends the party, which she is not interested in. She is not adapted to the atmosphere there, so she walks away alone. But, she meets the people she does not want to see, Brian. The appearance of Brain let Sophia to be upset. Brian follows up with her, fortunately, later, Luke appears and helps Sophia get out of Brian’s harassment and after staying chatting with each other, Sophia has a different feeling with Luke.

   The third chapter is talked about Luke’s experience, his participation in riding cattle is strongly opposed by his mother, but he cannot give up. When he first meets Sophia, it is just at the time that she is perplexed by Brain. But at the very start, he doesn't want to tube this business, but he still gives a hand to her. They talk about the grade that Sophia is in and her family background. Also, Luke has talked about his experience on bull riding, and the places he has been to, he also feels that he begins to be attracted by this girl.