Reviews

Not my favorite Hemingway book, though that is hardly a criticism. It took me two read-through's to appreciate The Sun Also Rises for its glorious frustration; in the first I felt nothing, yet by the end of the second I could not help but shed a tear. Such awful aching, such powerful yearning! I would not be surprised if A Farewell to Arms is the same way, and I gladly welcome the opportunity for Hemingway to change my mind once again by proving the merits of his work.

But to address the substance of this text, I can see clearly the similarities to TSAR, where a bland, deliberately unadorned style acts as a stoic facade concealing the agony and turmoil beneath the surface. And like the other Hemingway works, AFtA meditates, but is careful to avoid dwelling, on themes and thoughts of death. The backdrop of The Great War - drawn from personal experiences - allows for the story of the protagonist to be told in relation to a world gone mad. World War I was a conflict which redefined warfare - and through this, spirituality, history, even morality, all the trappings and milieu of the previous century. The Lost Generation is aptly named, and Hemingway accurately portrays his hero, John, as someone unsure of many things, including his reason for joining the war, his relation to his friends and family, even his own desires. Unlike the literature that emerged after WWII, which mostly focused on the absurdities ridiculousness of modern warfare, in AFtA there is more a quiet bewilderment, disgust, deep, deep sadness, and of course, overwhelming frustration.

John and his betrothed, the British nurse Catherine, escape from an overrun Italy to Switzerland, the nation of neutrality and a presumed safe haven. Throughout their harrowing journey, one could see clearly the dangers at every turn, but this was rarely betrayed in the dialogue, internal or otherwise, by John or those around him. Rather, John was almost seen as a rogue, the quintessential romanticized hero who could escape any situation, no matter the odds, while looking dapper, with a glass of vermouth in hand. He is devoted, loyal, protective of his lover and subordinates. But all this was for naught, because death follows at every turn, and the ending is almost inevitable. And maybe it's this inevitability, this denial of happiness by fate, which is the central irony: inn a world now devoid of meaning as defined by generations past, the only constant left, the great equalizer, the beginning and the end, is death. It is a crushing worldview, and one that John does all he could to ignore and avoid, but ultimately to which he finds himself and those dearest to him inextricably ensnared. The dread is palpable, even visceral.

Hemingway is quickly solidifying his status as my favorite writer. I greatly enjoyed A Farewell to Arms, and I believe I would be able to appreciate the mastery on a second or even third read-through. For now, though, the hopelessness is a bit overwhelming, and I think I would do better to read something lighter, more life-affirming, until then.

infiniterest's review against another edition

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4.0

Now that I’ve been gutted by Hemingway I feel like a proper adult.

michaeldoherty's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

keehansmith's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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