for whom the bell tolls

Each volume provides discussions of the literary and historical background of novels from various cultures and time periods. Includes concise synopses of plot, characters and themes, a brief author biography, discussion of the story's cultural and historical significance, and excerpted criticism.

"Published in 1940, Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls is widely considered a masterpiece of war literature. A bestseller upon its release, the novel has long been both admired and ridiculed for its depiction of Robert Jordan's military heroism and wartime romance. Yet its validation of seemingly conflicting narratives and its rendering of the intricate world its characters inhabit, as well as its dense historical, literary, and biographical allusions, have made it a work that remains a focus of interest and study. Alex Vernon mines the historical record, examining Hemingway's drafts and correspondence, synthesizing the body of literary criticism about the novel, and engaging in close textual analysis. As a result, new and important insights into the complex situation of the Spanish Civil War-integral to the novel-emerge, enriching our understanding of the novel and reminding us that For Whom the Bell Tolls is still vital, significant, and relevant"--.

Contains nineteen essays discussing the depiction of war in Ernest Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls.".

A guide to reading "For Whom the Bell Tolls," with analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.

Examination of Hemingway's Nobel Prize-winning masterpiece, discussing the Spanish Civil War.

Provides in-depth analysis of the life, works, career, and critical importance of writer, Ernest Hemingway.