A Farewell to Sobriety

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This was the last piece of work from Hemingway's portfolio which I had not read. I saved it for last because I had a feeling that I would not enjoy it - and indeed I didn't.

It saddens me that "A Farewell to Arms" is the only experience that many people have with Hemingway. I could discuss for hours the brilliancy of his other poems, short stories, novels, and non-fiction accounts.

Also, it deserves to be noted that Hemingway was an alcoholic. The first few chapters felt like sober writing, but the book quickly descends into drunken rambling. I see a lot of comments about Miss Berkley's dialog ringing untrue, as well as accusations of Hemingway being a misogynist for writing Catherine as this boring, vapid, tunnel-visioned creature. The point these readers miss is that Hemingway was a drunk, and many of his short comings as a writer can be blamed on alcohol. If you read this book through the rose-colored glasses of an alcoholic, the prose is actually quite tragic, because we see the decline of Hemingway himself rather than the characters.

If this book is your only experience with Hemingway, please do yourself the favor of not allowing it to be your last. "The Old Man and the Sea" is excellent, as are his various books about his time in Africa. "Islands in the Stream" is another favorite of mine. Hemingway writes poetically about hunting and fishing - other topics...not so much. Do keep in mind that he was married many times, had many children, and by all accounts failed at family life. One must keep this in mind when reading his romantic works.



View all my reviews