The end of the book has a different feel as Hemminway is looking back. What are your impressions?

[Beth]

I understand the ending was tweaked in different ways by family members and varies between editions.

[Valerie]

Yes, I've read that too but it hard to tell how much they may have altered his writing (as well, they may have gone for a different 'feeling' to it).

Of course, in this section he glosses over the fact he was having an affair. However, it seemed to me he was looking back with great nostalgia on his time with Hadley and perhaps wishing things had been different (ie. he had behaved differently).

[Beth]

I sensed sadness and bitterness looking back on a simpler promising life and career.

[Valerie]

Beth wrote: "I sensed sadness and bitterness looking back on a simpler promising life and career."

Yes, that could be. Certainly his productive writing life was short.