Hemingway's First War the Making of a Farewell to Arms: The Making of "a Farewell to Arms

by Michael S. Reynolds

Demonstrates that, rather than being derived from his own experience, the settings and detail of A Farewell to Arms is based on Hemingway's extensive research

309 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1976

About the author

As part of Reynolds' lifelong research, aided by his wife and editor Ann, he followed Hemingway's travels through Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Key West, Fla., and visited the novelist's childhood home in Oak Park, Ill.

Reynolds served on the editorial board of the Hemingway Review. He also helped establish the Hemingway Society, which presents the annual Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award for the best first work of fiction published in the U.S., and organized its biannual conferences for Hemingway scholars. The professor was particularly delighted with the 1996 conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, one of Hemingway's familiar stomping grounds, which was attended by five friends of the late author.

Internationally respected, Reynolds was consulted in 1992 about 20 newly discovered newspaper stories allegedly written by Hemingway for the Toronto Star in the early 1920s. Some of the articles, which Reynolds and other scholars authenticated, were found in the Hemingway section of the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, the world's leading center of Hemingway studies.[More...]

Reviews

[talia ♡]

obsessed when the absolutely fascinating and rich biographies/non fic books that i own don't even have cover photos on goodreads 😭

[Debbie Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always found it fascinating to read "behind the scenes" books. With the reading of this book I now have a new respect for Hemingway. His accurate depiction of the war, his map reading and research skills are highlighted and also his romance with the real Catherine Barkley. In my opinion she flirted with him and led him on to belief that they could be together after the war but her actions made sure they weren't.
A well written book not just on Hemingway but the writing process itself.

[Martin Bihl · Rating 2 out of 5]

illuminating analysis of Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" that made it more complex than i remembered it. but definitely not everyone - just the lit crit wonks.

[Randa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don know why every good novelest must love tragdy ending ,it is like they tell us life is hell & honestly i don see that but still best novel to my best writer