Books

First edition, first printing, in the attractively preserved dust jacket designed by Cleonike Damianakes (1895-1979), renowned for her classical-style cover art for Lost Generation writers. The first printing is without the legal disclaimer which appeared in the second and third printings on p. x. Based on Hemingway's experiences as an ambulance driver at the Italian Front during the First World War, it was written at the peak of his success and met with wide acclaim. The critic James Aswell offered particularly lavish praise: "I have finished A Farewell to Arms, and am still a little breathless, as people often are after a major event in their lives. If before I die I have three more literary experiences as sharp and exciting and terrible as the one I have just been through, I shall know it has been a good world" (cited in Bloom, p. 5). Octavo. Original black cloth, printed gold paper labels on spine and front cover, fore edge untrimmed. With dust jacket by Cleonike Damianakes. Brentano's bookseller ticket on rear pastedown. Spine head bumped, faint ring stain on rear cover, lightly affecting jacket, contents clean; bright, unclipped jacket a little rubbed and nicked, singular small chip and closed tear, faint splash mark on front flap: a near-fine copy in like jacket. Grissom A.8.1.a; Hanneman 8a. Harold Bloom, ed., Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, 2009.

Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" is a poignant novel set against the backdrop of World War I. The story follows the experiences of Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver in the Italian army, and his romance with Catherine Barkley, a British nurse. As the war rages on, Frederic becomes disillusioned with the conflict and seeks solace in his relationship with Catherine. Their love blossoms amidst the chaos of war, offering them brief moments of respite from the brutality surrounding them. However, their happiness is fragile, and tragedy looms over their romance. The novel explores themes of love, loss, disillusionment, and the futile nature of war. Hemingway's spare and straightforward prose style mirrors the stark realities faced by the characters, conveying the harshness of war and the complexities of human relationships. "A Farewell to Arms" is not just a war novel; it's a profound meditation on the human condition, capturing the essence of love and sacrifice in the face of adversity. Through Hemingway's masterful storytelling, the novel continues to resonate with readers, offering timeless insights into the human experience.