For Whom the Bell Tolls

There is a part of me that wanted to enjoy this book (which it did), and there is a part of me that had made up my mind that I didn't care much for Hemingway based on my impressions as a teenager reading something assigned to me 25 years ago. I am glad I stuck it out and finished this one.

Starting the title and the allusion to Donne, the theme of connectedness is woven into the narrative skillfully. I mean that sincerely. There are times when Hemingway is overt about it, with the characters openly acknowledging the connectedness of the world. Yet, much of Robert Jordan's personal reflections deal with this theme, and his musings connect him to his past and the future in interesting ways.

The theme of death also appeared constantly. Hemingway dealt with it squarely and effectively, though the characters can come off as callous to it. Is that because they're fighting a war? Possibly, yet the scene of Anselmo's death shows the reader that these characters, particularly Jordan and Pilar, are capable of being deeply affected by death. In step with the connection theme, the loss of Anselmo dims Jordan's outlook on their mission.

Readers really need a basic understanding of the context in which the narrative occurs. It was not difficult to obtain. A quick review of the Wikipedia entry on the Spanish Civil War, though not acceptable for those embarking on serious academic study of the text, will suffice for the casual reader.

I cannot close a review of this book without commenting on the language. Hemingway's use of thee, thou, etc. is distracting but easily managed. I have read that it was a deliberate attempt to represent the types of broken English spoken by non-native speakers as well as how English can accommodate the multiple second person verb forms found in Spanish. Either way, the language neither adds nor detracts from the text for me, but it could be a stumbling block for other readers. The deliberate avoidance of expletives was another such literary decision.

Would I recommend this one to all of my friends? No. However, for those looking for an accessible, enjoyable classic, this one is an option.