A Farewell to Arms

By Ernest Hemingway and Ernest Heminquey

Book Overview

"A Farewell to Arms" by Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway is a timeless masterpiece of literary and war fiction. Set against the brutal backdrop of World War I in Italy, this powerful novel tells the poignant story of Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver serving in the Italian army, and his passionate affair with Catherine Barkley, a British nurse.

As the horrors of war escalate and disillusionment sets in, Frederic confronts profound questions of duty, love, and survival. Wounded and weary from the campaigns in Italy, he finds solace and an intense bond with Catherine, leading them to a desperate attempt to escape the conflict and forge a new life together. Their relationship, tested by war wounds and the ever-present shadow of the battlefield, becomes a central struggle for meaning amidst the chaos.

Hemingway's stark, evocative prose captures the devastating impact of war on individuals, exploring themes of courage, sacrifice, the futility of conflict, and the enduring power of love amidst chaos. This gripping narrative delves into the complexities of man-woman relationships under extreme duress and the profound personal cost of military service and desertion.

A seminal work of 20th-century literature, "A Farewell to Arms" remains a compelling and unforgettable exploration of love, loss, and the search for peace in a world torn apart by war. This print edition invites readers to experience one of Hemingway's most celebrated and emotionally resonant novels.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025236092
• ISBN13: 9781025236094
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 374 Pages
• Weight: 1.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.8" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

Good book with a great ending

I read The Fisherman and The Sea a few years ago and wanted to read some more Hemingway so I picked up this book and chipped away at it. I’ve never felt like I’ve been slapped in the face by an ending until I read this book. Make sure if you start it, you finish it.

One of Hemingway’s Best Works.

A tragic ending to a great story.

Hemingway kept me on edge of my seat

This was the first book in a really long time that kept me reading past 1am.

Being Brave

Hemingway uses love and war to find a bit of truth. Life breaks you--it kills you--if you're "very good" or "very brave." Nature washes over humanity like a flood, merely moving over anyone that lays down for it, but crushing people who stand against it. Hemingway pits Catherine & Frederick against the tide, while taking note of those just swimming along, like Count Greffi. At ninety-four, the Count has survived so long because he, like other old men, did not "grow wise...[but]careful." He hasn't "become more devout" either--perhaps he doesn't care about anything enough to be broken by its loss. He values life because it's all he's got. Catherine dies in the end standing against the flood: she was brave and good and gentle, and those qualities are the antithesis of a world that produces such a meaningless war. Frederick had the honor the bow out of that war when it became obscene to him, and loved Catherine so much she took away his loneliness. He was broken by her death, and I wonder if it will kill him in the rain on the way back to his hotel. Hemmingway wrote a romantic story, and a realistic war novel, but he also wrote something about the difference between living and just existing. That's why this book is great.