The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition

I can't believe I am at an advanced age and have never read anything by Hemingway! So rather than tackle a classic, I opted for this collection of EH short stories, and what a pleasure that decision has turned out to be. Truth is, I am not a fisherman, nor a hunter, and I despise bullfighting... and EH covers these subjects repeatedly. So it has to come down to his undeniable skill as an author that has made it possible for me to read these passages and not be bored or put off. Also there is liberal (and by liberal I mean lots of) use of so-called racial slurs, which is how people seemed to roll back in that day. Frankly, I would rather see it for how it was (the way EH wrote it) than to have it omitted by some editor who found the language offensive. Long story short (pun intended), I am really very pleased with this series of short tales.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of Hemingway’s Short Stories. It’s nice to have all the old favorites and a few more in an accessible collection. Hemingway’s short stories are some of my favorite works of literature. I’ve always enjoyed his novels. But my favorite Hemingway works are the short stories. “A Clean And Well Lit Place” “My Old Man” The Nick Adams stories “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macombre” they sum up Hemingway for me. So I enjoyed this book over the summer, taking it with me on my vacation to Italy, France and Spain. The classics are all here, and then there are less familiar stories, some previously unpublished, some unfinished. I found it interesting that the last story in the book “The Strange Country” brings you back to the beginning of Hemingway’s career. In this story, Hemingway revisits the lost manuscripts and the devastation he felt when he found they were all missing. I keep hoping they show up at a Paris flea market. It's a thick book. Some reviewers complain of the small print, and the paper. I don’t really know how they could have done it differently. I enjoy the paper it is printed on, the tactile comfort of it. The print is small. There isn’t really any other way you are going to get all the material in a single volume. I suppose one could order the kindle version and expand the print to their desirability, or buy a magnifying glass.

For the vast majority of readers, their exposure to Ernest Hemingway’s short stories is limited to a couple of oft anthologized selections, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and The Short, Happy Life of Francis Macomber. Well, those are here but so are approximately 70 others. Get ready for steady doses of hunting and fishing, bullfighting and whiskey. A heavy helping feature Nick Adams, most often in Michigan. War is a recurring topic. France, Spain, Italy, Cuba and Africa appear often. In the end two stories new to me made the most lasting impressions. The Last Good Country features a teenage Nick Adams on the run after shooting a buck out of season. Nick’s loyal younger sister decides to run with him and announces that she plans to become his common law wife. I couldn’t help thinking that the character of Nick is drawn from Ernest’s self and offer an insight into the author’s persona. The Strange Country is the last story in the book and is an unfinished autobiographical tale of 36 year old Roger run off with a younger woman who he appears to have married even though he keeps calling her daughter. No, not all of the stories are topnotch, but most of them are certainly worth reading and together provide a rich understanding of a larger than life author.

Fun and fascinating stories from one of the best authors of our time

While I do love the Hemingway novels (and novella) I've read, I think I ultimately prefer his short stories. I thought this was a better choice than any of the smaller and less complete Hemingway collections, and I wasn't disappointed. I especially enjoyed many of the Nick Adams stories, like the two-part "Big Two-Hearted River", or the ones that made me reflect, like "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place". I didn't find all of them to be amazing, personally. But what I love about a large and "complete" collection like this is that you get to choose for yourself and, hopefully, discover new ones that you love. The young kid in me who grew up in the northwoods was able to relive the days of camping and fishing. The dreamer could live vicariously through the bullfights and hunting excursions. And the adult version of me could take solace or introspect after reading some of the other stories. I certainly hope everyone finds at least one story in this collection that speaks to them. Side note: Something that I wish I would have understood going into these stories was Hemingway's intent. I must admit after the first few stories, I felt extremely depressed in the way the stories were going. Whether it was couples bickering, violence or death. I don't know how to convey my exact thoughts about the first stories without risking spoilers. The point is: I like to think I grew up a little more after reading these stories. Or at least have a better understanding of how to approach some literature. Of course I don't know his exact intentions/desires/feelings, but once I realized he seemed more interested in how people behaved in the most trying of times (often in the face of death), it did wonders for my appreciation. Were you really a coward, or honorable? Did you live life to the fullest, or squander it? Not every story deals with this, but I wanted to give some "advice" if anyone begins this collection and happens to have the same thoughts as I did.

If you're looking for the short stories of Ernest Hemingway look no further. This is a great collection.

Well, his use of racial slurs is heavy handed but I understand that’s how white people talk. Once you overcome the shock of that, his stories are good. I like when he mimics Gertrude Stein’s prose out of the blue. It really leaps out when he inserts it here and there. You see the influence Stein had on his style.