My first Hemingway book ... A Farewell to Arms is written from the point of view of Frederic Henry, an American serving as an ambulance driver for the Italian army during World War I. Henry begins a relationship with Catherine Barkley, a nurse for the British army. Although he initially keeps telling himself that he does not love Catherine, but that their relationship is "a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards" ... he does ultimately seem to fall in love with her.In the course of the war, there was supposedly an act of treachery that led to the Italian defeat. So when Henry realizes that Italian officers are being interrogated and executed because of the defeat, he escapes by jumping into a river. By that point, Catherine is three months pregnant, and she and Henry escape Italy by rowing to Switzerland in a rowboat.
The gender dynamics between Catherine and Henry are interesting ... old-fashioned and slightly melodramatic, but interesting. One passage:
[Catherine]: "How many people have you ever loved?"
[Henry]: "Nobody."
"Not even me?"
"Yes, you."
"How many others really?"
"None."
"How many have you—how do you say it?—stayed with?"
"None."
"You’re lying to me."
"Yes."
"It’s all right. Keep right on lying to me. That’s what I want you to do."
I was rooting for them after Henry seemed to accept his feelings for Catherine, and was sad at the ending! (which I won't spoil).
This is the second war story I've read (the first was Miracle at St. Anna) - and to be honest, both have left me a bit confused. I feel like I might have missed some themes ... and I'm realizing that I prefer nonfiction (over fiction). Nonetheless, an enjoyable book.
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