7 best books by Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway is the greatest writer of our time, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize laureate, who became famous not only for his works, but also for his life rich in interesting events and adventures. And although it ended tragically, the master was able to give unforgettable creations that still excite millions of people around the world. Books written in the styles of modernism and realism, were able to captivate even those readers who preferred other genres. E. Hemingway wrote about what surrounds him and about his feelings, revealing the facets of human life, describing the difficult relationship between people.
His creations with a recognizable style, in which both conciseness and saturation were combined at the same time, are still read with delight by people of different ages, genders, religions. In our rating, we selected the best works of American prose writer and journalist, who became Ernest Hemingway's business card and were able to contribute to modern world literature.
Ranking of the best books of Ernest Hemingway
| Nomination | a place | composition | rating |
| Ranking of the best books of Ernest Hemingway | 1 | For whom the Bell Tolls | 4.9 |
| 2 | The Old Man and the Sea. Stories | 4.8 | |
| 3 | A holiday that is always with you | 4.7 | |
| 4 | A Farewell to Arms! | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Fiesta | 4.7 | |
| 6 | Islands and the sea | 4.6 | |
| 7 | To have and not to have | 4.5 |
For whom the Bell Tolls
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.9
In the first place is the novel, which immediately after publication in 1940 entered the top ten of the world's best works and throughout these time holds these positions, being an undoubted bestseller that you should definitely read. The title of the book, which still sounds like “For Whom beats the alarm”, was taken from the sermon of the seventeenth century priest John Donne, and the passage from it became an epigraph.
This work is about war, about its cruelty, about suffering and hatred, about the value of human life as a unit and its depreciation among the masses, that is, about a war without embellishment. It is intended for those who were able to survive these events, and for those who have never come into contact with them, so that everyone always remembers what disasters they lead to. The action takes place in 1937 in Spain. In the center of events, young fighter Robert Jordan, sent to the rear of the enemy, to undermine the bridge. The book describes a few days in the life of a partisan detachment. Each character is colorful and interesting in its own way. And although the author practically does not describe the experiences of the main characters, the reader himself guesses about them.
It is worth noting that because of the strictest censorship in the USSR, the book was published with distortions and corrections, but now you can enjoy the full-fledged creation of the author, which is published without editing and abbreviations.
The Old Man and the Sea. Stories
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.8
In the second place of the rating is the great work of the writer, with whom almost every book lover is familiar and which is included in the school curriculum. It was for him in 1954, Ernest Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize. This book was the latest creation of the prose writer, published during his lifetime.The main character is a Cuban fisherman who every day faces difficulties, but he appreciates everything that surrounds him, admires the beautiful world and shows an example of optimism in any situation.
For almost three months old Santiago cannot catch a single fish, so it has become considered unlucky. Only the boy Manolin believes that he will succeed and helps his adult friend in every possible way, despite the prohibition of his father. For 85 days the old man smiles luck, and he catches a giant marlin more than 5 meters long. For two days Santiago is trying to keep the fish on the line and swim with it to the shore. On the third day he is forced to enter into an unequal fight with sharks, kill five of them, but lose almost all of the marlin caught.
Throughout the story, the old man communicates with animals on an equal footing. He sympathizes with the marlin, understanding his feelings, talking to sharks, acknowledging defeat and saying that they killed his dream and again returned to the camp of the unlucky. “The Old Man and the Sea” is a book that helps to rethink many moments of life, see new facets and become happy from any little things that previously seemed mundane.
A holiday that is always with you
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.7
Third place ranking deservedly goes to the work, consisting of small essays telling about the life of Ernest Hemingway in Paris. The autobiographical book tells not only about the wife and young son of the writer, but also about all the people who meet on the way during that period. In order to prevent inaccuracies in the description of the most romantic city in the world, the maitre visited Paris several times to clarify the smallest details.
The lyrical mood begins immediately after the first page, and the feeling of warmth and celebration remains for a long time after reading the last. In his memoirs, new features of the writer's talent have opened up: his observation, sincerity, curiosity and a bright personality. In them, he showed all aspects of human nature, his thoughts about the craft and literary fellows. Many still consider the 20th years of the 20th century to be the “golden age” of Ernest Hemingway.
In the book, the author describes the first acquaintance with Russian writers, whose works he saw in the bookshop. He was touched by the power of talent of Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Turgenev. But a special trace after reading left the creations of Tolstoy, who described the war as no one else had done before. If you haven’t read The Holiday that is Always With You, do not put the book on hold and enjoy the interesting syllable, the incredible beauty of Paris, described so lovingly by the author, and once again make sure that it’s not for nothing that Hemingway was recognized as one of the best writers modernity.
A Farewell to Arms!
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.7
The book, which ranked fourth, made Ernest Hemingway famous. Published in 1929, it immediately won the love of the readership and the approval of critics, and three years later it was successfully filmed by American director Frank Borzegi. The plot of the novel, as in all the works of the author, is simple, not twisted and complex, not burdened by parallel lines, the syllable is lively and understandable to readers of any age.
The action takes place during the First World War. An officer of the Italian army is wounded and falls into the hospital, where at first sight falls in love with his compatriot, nurse Catherine Barkley. After healing, he miraculously escapes both from the bullet of the enemy and from execution for alleged desertion. Frederick Henry, realizing all the horrors of war, injustice and hatred of any human unit participating in these cruel events, leaves the war and, together with his beloved, is transported by boat to Switzerland.
Although the author claimed that the work is purely literary, fictional, many storylines are connected with the real life of the writer. He was also at war, where he was wounded and hospitalized for treatment, during which he had an affair with a nurse.Subsequently, he admitted to the editor that he simply did not want to advertise his stay at the front and was seriously wounded.
Fiesta
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.7
Then the autobiographical novel, which was published in 1926, entered the rating. Memoirs have become a kind of manifesto of the “lost generation” of the 20s of the last century, which was able to survive the horrors of war, to go through all the trials and difficulties, but never find themselves in peaceful life. All the heroes of the work really existed. These were close friends and acquaintances of Hemingway.
All descriptions are in a manner peculiar to the author: concise, simple, without additional plot lines. From the first minute, the reader is fascinated and fascinates the history of real people, who in every possible way tried to adapt to a new life. The enthusiasm of the writer corrida was reflected in the novel. Here there will be friendship with the Spanish matador, a visit to literary cafes, a fishing trip and a return to post-war Paris. Falling in love with a woman and insurmountable obstacles to living together, jealousy, alcohol, to escape from reality - all this can be seen in one of the most famous works of Hemingway.
It is worth noting that the original author's title of the book is “And the sun rises.” "Fiesta" is an English version. But the writer did not protest him, and later on the cover indicated two names. The work is recommended for reading in order to understand that in life there are always events that are a counterweight to the previous one. War is replaced by peace, hatred - by love, separation - by meeting.
Islands and the sea
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.6
The novel included in our rating was published after Hemingway’s death in 1970. In the center of the plot - the uneasy life of marine painter Thomas Hudson. The work is largely autobiographical. Appearance, age, occupation of the main character and the author are the same. Hudson and Hemingway collaborated with the American authorities. Even the breeds, nicknames and habits of the cats of these people are identical.
The description begins with the measured and calm life of the artist, who settled on the island of Bimini and wrote there his paintings. Once a year his sons come to him, who spend the summer holidays with his father. They enjoy the beauty of the island, relax, bathe in the sea. But the tragic death of two younger sons and the former wife puts an end to the happy life of the artist. The second part of the novel covers the events of the Second World War, in which Hudson's eldest son dies. He becomes embittered to the whole world, drowning grief in alcohol.
In the latter part, Thomas participates in capturing the crew of a German submarine who was trying to escape from a damaged submarine. The assignment will be completed, but Hudson himself is seriously wounded. The work touched upon many aspects of human life: morality, loneliness, courage, responsibility for oneself and the people around them.
To have and not to have
Book author: Ernest Hemingway
Rating: 4.5
Our rating is completed with a novel published in 1937. He talks about the difficult years of the economic crisis in America. In the center of the plot is a simple fisherman who is trying to survive in the conditions of the Great Depression and who has turned from hopelessness to the criminal path to feed himself, his wife and three daughters. Harry Morgan earns money by renting his boat to tourists on holiday. He himself accompanies the rich, as he knows the best places for fishing.
One day he finds himself in a difficult situation with bad gear and no money. To get from the coast of Cuba to America, he had to agree to illegally transport the Chinese, who, at the insistence of the middleman, were to be killed along the way. But Morgan prefers to save illegal immigrants from certain death. Rising once on a slippery slope, Harry further agrees to smuggle whiskey.
Fate is unfair to the fisherman, and he dies, without realizing the dream to help his family. At the same time, on large and luxurious yachts, people who do not know nothing about failure are burning life without thinking.The novel raises acute social problems, in the center of which is the confrontation between the poor and the rich, well-fed life and half-starved existence. The reader will have to decide for himself who the real criminal is here, and who has become so by the will of fate.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
