Ernest Hemingway Books: Reviews and Analysis
Ernest Hemingway is a revered classic writer, and for good reason. He transformed narrative through his concise syntax and direct dialogue. We are showcasing a list of Hemingway’s works, so you can find out where to start. Within this piece, we are also analyzing a few of his books. Dive in!
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Ernest Hemingway’s Fiction Published Novels
The Sun Also Rises (1926)
The Torrents of Spring (1926)
Men Without Women (1927) - Collection of Short Stories
A Farewell to Arms (1929)
To Have and Have Not (1937) - Collection of Short Stories
For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940)
Across the River and into the Trees (1950)
The Old Man and the Sea (1952)
Novels published after Hemingway passed.
Islands in the Stream (1970)
*The books highlighted are those we review and analyze below.
About the Author:
Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, and passed on July 2, 1961. He was an American writer and war veteran. His stories were heavily influenced by his time served in the war, as well as his passions for fishing, bullfighting, and women. Hemingway was part of a writing community in the 1920s— they called themselves, The Lost Generation. Of these writers were Hemingway, Fitzgerald, T.S. Elliot, and more. These authors took over Paris where they congregated on the craft, there they wrote some of the most famous works to date.
Where to start with Ernest Hemingway’s Novels.
Hemingway has a large catalog of stories in his career, which can feel intimidating if you don’t know which to start with. But, you truly can’t go wrong with any of his books. However, we recommend starting with The Old Man and the Sea. It’s a novella; making it a smooth introduction into his writing style while engaging with a heartfelt story filled with metaphor.
*Some of the contents within these book reviews may include spoilers.
The Old Man and the Sea:
Book Review and Analysis
A Book Review Analysis
82 Pages | Literary Fiction | Ernest Hemingway
Published with Scribner in July 2020, the hardcover edition.
Summary:
Santiago is a fisherman but has gone without a single catch in eighty-four days. Feeling slightly lucky after many days of being unlucky, he wakes another day and goes out to sea. He catches a marlin who puts up an honorable fight, but the sea is unpredictable and he’s not sure he’ll come back with a catch after all.
Structure:
This novella is perfectly designed. From front to cover, the artwork is fantastic, and we get to know more about Hemingway as a fisherman. But what is most important is how the story is crafted. We immediately dive into the character’s lives and quickly fall into their world.
Hemingway’s diction is short and straightforward. For Hemingway, pacing is where he thrives and every story exemplifies this; it makes his work most engaging, memorable, and heartfelt. The Old Man and the Sea is no different.
Theme: Nobility
The theme we are exploring is nobility. This is developed through Santiago and the fish he catches. The marlin and the old man are the same; two honorary creatures fighting against life’s adversity. They may be destroyed, but they are never defeated in spirit because of their valor.
He romanticizes the act of fishing and being a fisherman. What I find most compelling is the sentiment Santiago has for the creatures of the sea. His respect for marine life is empathetic and gentle.
The old man confronts his own when he faces the deadliest creatures in the sea: sharks.
This story is about respecting nature and honoring death.
Afterthoughts:
Hemingway tells this tale beautifully. The imagery always had me right out to sea with Santiago. This is a tale you can pick up once a year—it’s short but holds so much depth that you can’t help but weep.
Rating:
★★★★★
A Farewell to Arms
Book Review & Analysis
First Scribner Paperback Fiction Edition 1995
332 Pages | Classic Fiction | Ernest Hemingway
Summary:
Set in World War I, American lieutenant Frederic Henry falls injured and in love with English nurse Catherine Barkley. While she heals him, their relationship progresses and she becomes pregnant. Henry has an unfulfilled desire to be with Catherine and their unborn child, but he and his comrades are sent back into the war. They must endure the hardships despite their lack of motivation to fight for a cause they can’t control and seems to have no end. They need the war to be over— enough to desert it.
Structure:
Hemingway’s prose is short and concise. He isn’t one to wax poetically about the details—he’s direct. His writing is easy to read because you don’t have to wonder what he means because he tells you what is. Even while using abstract metaphors or foreshadowing, he still cuts deep with simple phrasing and descriptions. It’s a magic trick.
Let’s explore a couple of themes that felt poignant in A Farewell to Arms.
Themes: War and Death
War
Henry is our protagonist. He's written as an isolated and introverted character who enjoys sitting around the fire with his comrades conversing about the war, while keeping his personal life close to his chest. Hemingway doesn’t sugarcoat war nor feel the need to glorify it; he does the opposite by sharing its bitter truth.
Henry feels turmoil from constantly witnessing his comrades k*lled in battle; he no longer wants any part in this fight. He feels even more disenchanted after he meets Catherine; Henry wants nothing more than to endure life with her, but the war rips them apart.
In A Farewell to Arms majority of the soldiers don't understand the cause they are fighting for anymore and many don’t want to take a human life. After living with starvation, filth, and time away from home— they want to leave. While some soldiers do as they are commanded, others can’t bear to kill for the effects it causes their psyches and souls.
Hemingway was an ambulance driver during the First World War and some say A Farewell to Arms was based on his life experience— even down to the romance. The impression I inferred was that this story exemplified the author's anger and reasons why he hated war. Although it is fiction, the truths are not. However, if you’re looking for non-fiction, A Moveable Feast is Hemingway’s memoir about his time as a journalist in Paris.
Death
There is a lot of death in this book—obviously—it’s a war story, but Hemingway foreshadows death from the beginning. There are multiple lines that Hemingway echoes throughout the story about it. At first, he seems cynical, his perspective is morbid and emotionless. He says the world breaks the good, and everyone is killed by this life—in some form or another. To a degree, this is true because life is suffering and we cannot escape that. But, there is also a beauty that comes from suffering; we evolve and get stronger from pain. So, I personally disagree with his statement that life breaks the good—instead—it molds them.
After some reflection, I understand that these are Hemingway’s reflections about the war. It kills. He’s angry at the world because of the people who put the innocent into battle— they break apart families and destroy the youth before they even have the chance to live. This book releases his resentments and is an examination of what it means to be a soldier. We witness it all— from the comrades he sees die to the soldiers who relish in the kill. As an audience, we empathize with how some come out of it unstable. War is traumatic.
Setting:
Setting plays a role in the tone and ambiance of this novel. Almost every setting in this story is rainy—especially the most dramatic scenes. Hemmingway sets up the tone here showing us how melancholy and depressing war is. This feeling also reflects the internal realm of the characters and the overall atmosphere. Hemingway wants us to see and feel its aura for what it is— darkness.
It rains in the first and last scenes of this novel. When we move through the battlefield— it rained. There’s a memorable scene where Henry hides beneath the water from his enemy. This motif weaves throughout the story and symbolizes war. It feels akin to drowning; these men don’t have control over their lives because they are (mostly) drafted and can’t escape it unless they are released.
*Spoilers*
Afterthoughts:
I enjoyed the story. It was concise and still had beautiful metaphors and diction. The ending ripped my heart open; I understand why Pat in Silver Linings Playbook said, “Can’t we just have a good ending to the story?!”
I know that Hemingway wrote about 50 different endings and I am interested in reading them. I'll let you know if my opinion changes at that juncture.
For the ending that stands, I felt void of joy, humanity, and life. Everything felt dark and dead because it was. It’s still difficult to put my thoughts into words. But, when Henry escapes to start a new life, it felt like they should have been given a chance. Yet, he’s left to wander as a deserter— alone. It felt wrong. It felt like Hemingway didn’t do right by his characters, and it’s the one flaw in this book. Although part of me understood that he set up the story based on the aforementioned themes above to reflect that ending, so I get it. I have the utmost respect for this story.
Rating:
★★★.5
The Hemingway Stories
Short Story Analysis
304 Pages | Ernest Hemingway | Scribner, March 2 2021
Summary:
This is a selected collection of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, published in March 2021.
I highly recommend this collection of short stories by Hemingway. There were a handful of pieces that resonated with me, but the entire book was thoroughly enjoyable.
These stories stuck out to me in particular:
Up in Michigan (1923)
Indian Camp (1924)
Cross-Country Snow (1924)
The End of Something (1925)
From In Our Time (1925)
Hills Like White Elephants (1927)
The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1936)
There is one element to Hemingway’s writing that has stuck with me over the years: he understands his characters. We initially dive right into our character’s world. We see this in a multitude of these stories.
One of which is Up in Michigan.
Up in Michigan
Story Analysis
Hemingway starts the first two paragraphs introducing the main male character and main female character. Within this opening, we get a glimpse into the theme of the story while learning the desires of these two characters. This immediately pulls a reader in because it gives them a reason to care about the story.
Hemingway also uses repetition to create emphasis and tone for our female character, Liz. She’s infatuated with Jim. We learn Jim notices her but not the way she does him. The feelings are not mutual. We get insight into the way Liz thinks about Jim, which comes off as youthful and immature.
This style choice gives the reader insight into Liz’s internal state, while Jim’s actions exemplify his perception of that. So, when he kisses her, this is because of the intensity and desperation she may air around him.
Many of these stories are but a few pages long. For example, From In Our Time is a paragraph, which reveals so much within a small space. And that’s the point—Hemingway creates a feeling through the word count. It’s genius.
Share your thoughts on Hemingway’s work in the comments below.
Happy reading!
