The Sun Also Rises

Hemmingway’s The Sun Also Rises is one of those books you dread having to read for school but then end up really liking. Such was the case with me. It is also one of those books which contain so many themes and symbols that you feel like the author must reside on a higher plane of existence than the average man. And it is one of those classic books, which speaks volumes about life and society at a certain time in history.

In the case of The Sun Also Rises, published in 1926, that time was directly after the First World War. Although the novel in its entirety is fiction, it is considered a roman á clef, in which the people and events are based on reality. The story is written in first-person, and follows a man named Jake Barnes, along with his group of British and American expatriates, who travel from Paris to Spain drinking, quarreling, and attending bullfights.

There is, of course, a love story as well, between Jake Barnes and the beautiful, free-spirited Lady Brett. Unfortunately however, Jake had suffered a wound in the war which rendered him impotent. Thus, although Brett loves Jake she cannot bring herself to be with him. Throughout the book, her affairs with Robert Cohn and the young and dashing matador Romero upset Jake.

Hemmingway’s novel has more to it though, than a simple love story. His book reflects the aimlessness and disillusionment of what Gertrude Stein called “The Lost Generation,” those individuals who were dramatically affected by World War I. The protagonist Jake, although similar to his expatriate friends in many ways, differs from them in that he seems aware of this aimlessness.

So, if you are reading this book, be sure to understand the historical context as well. It’ll make it more fun, trust me.

Now, did I enjoy this book? Like I said, yes, very much. Hemmingway’s writing style consists of lots of dialogue and simple declarative sentences which are easy to read but which pack a punch. Sometimes though, his paragraphs describing bullfighting stretch to as long as an entire page or more. I despise skimming, but I’ll admit, at times it was necessary. The book isn’t too long though, and, unlike the case with some of Hemmingway’s books, I really fell in love with the characters. Poor Jake. L I just wanted to hug him by the end.

So if you haven’t read this book already, I highly recommend it. Don’t think that because it’s one of those books teachers make you read in school that it’s not entertaining. It is. The characters were colorful, the dialogue was realistic, and the action and description made me want to visit Europe so badly! And Hemmingway isn’t as hard to read as you might think, I promise. I started reading it thinking that I would just drag myself through it and be over it, but lo and behold, I might say that this book astonished me.

SO READ IT.

Notable Quotes:

~ "Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters."

~ This was Brett that I had felt like crying about. Then I thought of her walking up the street and stepping into the car, as I had last seen her, and of course in a little while I felt like hell again. It is awfully easy to be hard-boiled about everything in the daytime, but at night is another thing.

~ "I'm damned bad for a religious atmosphere," Brett said. "I've the wrong type of face."

~ “You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”

~ “Oh, Jake,” Brett said, “we could have had such a damned good time together.”

Ahead was a mounted policeman in khaki directing traffic. He raised his baton. The car slowed suddenly pressing Brett against me.
“Yes,” I said. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”

The Prisoner of Zenda

The Prisoner of Zenda – the second book in Anthony Hope’s Ruritania Trilogy – is a magnificent swashbuckling romance published in 1894. Fast paced and action packed, the book balances the perfect amount of swashbuckling with the perfect amount of romance. Dialogue keeps the story moving for the most part, and even when description is necessary, it is interesting to read because of the humorous voice of the narrator, also the protagonist, Rudolf Rassendyll.

Rudolf, an chivalrous English gentlemen from London, leaves on vacation only to find himself swept away into numerous adventures and political schemes in the land of Ruritania. As it turns out, Rudolf bears an almost identical identity as that of the soon-to-be-crowned king, Rudolf Elphberg. When Elphberg’s rival, Black Michael, Duke of Strelsau, tries to take the throne himself by drugging and imprisoning Elphberg on the eve of his coronation, Rudolf is convinced by a few newly-found friends to assume the King’s identity for the sake of political stability. As “King,” Rudolf and his friends – wise old Sapt and trusty, gallant young Fritz – embark on a mission to rescue the true king and defeat Black Michael and his traitorous cohorts.

Humor follows, with the sarcastic Rudolf narrating his own story and including much witty repartee along the way. Love follows too however, as does tragedy. Rudolf falls hopelessly in love with Princess Flavia and she with him, all the time thinking he is the king. ‘Til at the end, they find themselves wishing duty did not exist and love was the only thing. 

Although visiting Ruritania in reality is unlikely – it’s quite impossible to find it on a map – The Prisoner of Zenda takes it’s readers deep inside the political intrigue of fairytale-esque Ruritania. Furthermore, it combines romance and tete-a-tete swordplay, love and honor, tragedy and humor, in a way few books can. It is one I would definitely recommend reading, or at the VERY LEAST watching one of its numerous film adaptions.

Notable Quotes:
~ "Hang it!" said he, "we can't always be plotting. Love claims his share."

~ "Before God, you're the finest Elphberg of them all. But I have eaten of the King's bread, and I am the King's servant. Come, we will go to Zenda!"

~ For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonair knave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyed companions. It makes your sin no worse, as I conceive, to do it a la mode and stylishly.

~ "Surely," I exclaimed, "while you're above ground, hell wants its master!"

~ "The king would never forgive it," I stammered.
"Are we women? Who cares for his forgiveness?"