Farewell to Arms

First published in 1929, A Farewell to Arms has endured as one of Hemingway’s most popular works. The novel was his first bestseller, which solidified him as a serious writer and a fixture in the American literary canon.

Set against the brutal backdrop of the First World War, the novel is narrated by Lieutenant Frederic Henry, who is an American medic in the ambulance corps of the Italian Army. Frederic’s friend, Surgeon Rinaldi, is infatuated with a lover by the name of Miss Catherine Barkley. Upon encountering Miss Barkley, Frederic is immediately taken with her and tries to kiss her, unsuccessfully. Grieving the death of her fiancé, she begins to feel an illusory attachment to Frederic while Rinaldi fades into obscurity.

Soon after, Frederic is wounded in battle and taken to a hospital in Milan to heal. In addition to his physical ailments, the horrors of war also begin to take a toll on Frederic mentally, leaving him detached. Following a hasty knee surgery, he is delighted to learn that Miss Barkley has been transferred to his hospital. Despite his emotional bankruptcy, his relationship with Catherine intensifies. Still, tragedy lies ahead, and not even love can save them.

This tour de force is quintessential Hemingway — bullets and shrapnel, straight to the heart. With stunning illustrations by Tim Foley (The Sun Also Rises, Clydesdale, 2022), this is sure to be the perfect addition to any Hemingway fan’s collection.

'[Hemingway] writes as if he had never read anybody's writing, as if he had fashioned the art of writing himself.' — The Atlantic