Complete Short Stories Of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition

This is perhaps one of the hardest reviews I’ve had to write, mainly because I don’t feel qualified to critique an author of Ernest Hemingway’s calibre. It is tempting just to write that I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. But that’s not really helpful because one can write that about any collection of short stories. Instead I shall pick out four stories that have stayed in my mind long after I have finished them.The first is ‘The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber’ – which is also the first story in this compilation. At one level this is a story about big game hunting in Africa. I won’t give away any more than that in case it spoils the story for anyone who hasn’t read it. At another level, it explores death, fear, sexual fidelity, machismo and probably a few other aspects of the human condition that are less obvious. The meaning of the story is still debated today and there is disagreement about what exactly was happening inside the heads of the three main protagonists. In one sense, the story has a clear beginning, middle and end, and is neatly finished. But of course, it isn’t neatly finished and that is where the fascination lies.The next story is ‘The Undefeated’ about a courageous but stupid matador facing an equally courageous but stupid bull. It is not clear whether the title refers to the matador, the bull or both. Whilst it is clear that this story is inspired by Hemingway’s fascination with bull-fighting, it is more an analysis of the recklessness shown by those who have nothing to lose. The story might equally well have been about a gambler upping the ante to win back his money, or an alcoholic drinking to prove his victory over the bottle.Third is 'The Last Good Country' which is an account of a young man fleeing from the law with his younger sister. It is an account of survival in the wild, and it carries strong suggestions of incest. The female character is in love with her brother, but he appears to be less certain of his feelings although he clearly is not indifferent. This is an unfinished story - although many readers, including myself, find it as complete as is necessary to make it a satisfying short story. Regardless of whether or not it is unfinished, it is a fascinating read. It has been suggested this story is the beginning of a novella or novel and that Hemingway got bored with it, or couldn't work out how to take it forward. We shall never know. But I think it's fine just the way it is.And finally ‘The Killers’. This story was published in 1927 when Hemingway was only twenty-eight. It is about two hit men who enter a bar to kill a boxer who failed to ‘throw’ a fight. It is a tale of brutality, corruption, courage and one man’s indifference to death (or three men’s indifference if you include the two killers who know nothing about their intended victim apart from his identity). One of the most striking things about this story – apart from the understated quality of the narrative – is the fact that it is almost entirely carried by dialogue. We ‘see’ what happens because we ‘hear’ what happens. Whilst other writers have copied this technique, it was innovative at the time. This is a story that repays several readings in order to get the full flavour and all the nuances.To be blunt, some of the other stories in this compilation probably shouldn’t be there. They seem to be scraps written down by Hemingway for his notebook as the basis for longer stories that never got written. Some are barely one page long. It’s possible I’ve missed something in them, in which case I apologise to Hemingway’s ghost. But 90% of the stories are first class, original and entertaining and excellent models for anyone aspiring to write short stories.Overall, this is a terrific collection of tales by one of the great writers of the 20th Century. Strongly recommended.

I bought this book for my husband who is a big fan of Hemmingways short stories.The print is rather on the small side but still readable. Luckily he will be dipping in and out of the book so it won't matter too much.

I had read some of these stories many years ago but I enjoyed reading them again and it was great to discover the gems that I had missed.Hemingway was a master story teller whither it was factual, novel or short story and his works are always worth revisiting. To have his complete short stories in this convenient e book at a bargain price should not be missed.

I read these stories over 40 years ago and it is amazing how they affected and influenced me. I can still remember 'Che ti dice la patria?' and 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro'. However, many of the stories, especially the ones based on sports, bored me this time. One story about boxing was a blow-by-blow account of a boxing match that seemed to go on forever. I skipped many pages and gave up. The cruelty of the bullfighting stories disgusted me, and I wasn't interested in pages of gory details of bulls and matadors dying. These stories were cutting edge when written in the 1920s and they describe gross destruction of the natural world, including big-game hunting & and game fishing, with absolutely no appreciation of the harm it does to the biosphere. The sexism and racism are terrible too. But I still read most of the stories enthralled by the terse short one-liners. A lot of journalism today copies Hemmingway's style. A typical news story these days opens with a terse description of a no-nonsense blue-collar white guy driving a truck in Tennessee. Two short sentences tell you all you need to know. It's amazing to see Hemmingway's historical legacy.

I am enjoying reading these unforgettable stories. Anyone who likes the genre will appreciate the economy of words when describing complex events and emotions. Great stories of love and courage, challenges and rewards and set in unforgettably described places and times. The characters are always interesting and spring to life with grace and ease and leave indelible images. As unique as Guy Maupassant and as readable and captivating as Raymond Carver.Roy

I am not a great littary critic but this is a wide variety of stories of enormously varying length. There really is a lot in this collection in terms of both subjects and location. Death is a recurring theme. The ones I did not like we're bull-fighting stories that belong with"Death In The Afternoon". So much has already been written about this Nobel Prize winning author that I will not attempt add to it. There are some fifty plus stories, most in Europe, reflecting his life style.The book version would be too big to carry easily so I suggest Kindle for this one.

I first read most of these stories in the late 60's and it's a real delight that they haven't lost any of the edge.Papa was not a nice person to his friends or wife's but god he could write.The early novels and this collection are just the best American fiction ever.This collection contains gems and a few that should have remained buried.I heartily recommend reading " the essential Hemmingway" which not only contains the best of his shorts but also his masterpiece "Fiesta" which must be a favourite of any Hemingway fan..

I’d been recommended Hemingway’s short stories to support my own writing. These are great and an excellent price. I bought the kindle edition.

I'm in the middle of a big Hemingway obsession and absolutely loved this collection. Had to re-read several stories because they were so affecting.Only a couple complaints - this isn't actually "complete". There are a few Nick Adams stories not featured here. Also, frequently there's a word or two that didn't print very well - smudged, missing letters etc. Not a huge deal but it very slightly took me out of the stories.Otherwise, an easy recommendation.

Love it

Son cuentos que todos debemos leer una vez como mínimo.

Hemingway at his best. Zeit- und Sittengemälde aus den 1930/-40 Jahren.

This book collects all of Hemingway's stories, which are terrific. I prefer his earlier stories, particularly Indian Camp, Up in Michigan, Fifty Grand, and the Killers. But the more recent stories are good too, with the exception of a few mean spirited ones.Regarding Hemingway's treatment of women, there are sympathetic and strong female characters here, in the setting of a very different social milieu. I do think Hemingway has the ability to write about both genders.A number of stories center on the issue of physical and moral courage, which Hemingway tends to equate with traditional notions of masculine roles. In a few stories (The Short Happy life of Francis McCumber) the female tends to be a male trophy. But by and large, I think Hemingway's writing on physical courage does translate to the modern day, and his code hero of grace under pressure does not exclude women.More concerning is the nasty strain of racism in a few of these stories. Yes, Hemingway wants to capture what characters thought and said 100 years ago -- which inevitably included pejorative characterizations of African Americans. But sometimes the use of the N word is entirely gratuitous. In one story, Nick Adams happens upon a punch drunk fighter and his black companion. The narrator for no good reason describes the black man's "N--- legs." This particular character is probably the most sympathetic of the black characters. Almost all of the blacks are portrayed as servile and cowardly.Still, Hemingway must be read. His powerful use of simple, direct language and his "iceberg theory" really revolutionized the short story