Classics · MelancholicFrederic Henry, an American ambulance officer in the Italian army, falls in love with an English nurse
A Farewell to Arms
An American ambulance officer in World War I and the English nurse he loves
Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American officer in the Italian Army's ambulance corps, narrates in the first person. The story is set on the Italian front during World War I, roughly 1915 to 1917, with scenes in Gorizia, Milan, Stresa and Switzerland. It follows his love affair with Catherine Barkley, an English nurse he meets during his service. Scribner published it on September 27, 1929, after serializing it in Scribner's Magazine from May to October 1929.
More about this book
Who
Frederic Henry, Catherine Barkley, the surgeon Rinaldi and an army chaplain.
World
The Italian front in World War I, with scenes in Gorizia, Milan, Stresa and Switzerland.
What makes it different
Hemingway wrote 39 versions of the ending. It was his first best-seller and made him financially independent.
Feel
Spare and heartbreaking.
Page count and cover shown for: Selected edition
Further reading
- A Farewell to ArmsWikipedia