A farewell to arms Ernest Hemingway

The greatest American novel to emerge from World War I, _A Farewell to Arms_ cemented Ernest Hemingways reputation as one of the most important novelists of the twentieth century. Drawn largely from Hemingways own experiences, it is the story of a volunteer ambulance driver wounded on the Italian front, the beautiful British nurse with whom he falls in love, and their journey to find some small sanctuary in a world gone mad with war. By turns beautiful and tragic, tender and harshly realistic, _A Farewell to Arms_ is one of the supreme literary achievements of our time.

AFarewellToArms byErnestHemingway Flyleaf: ThegreatestAmericannoveltoemerge fromWorldWarI,_AFarewelltoArms_ cementedErnestHemingway'sreputationasoneofthemostimportantnovelistsofthe twentiethcentur y.Drawnlargelyfrom Hemingway'sownexperiences,itisthestoryofa volunteerambulancedriverwoundedontheItalianfront,thebeautifulBritishnursewith whomhefal lsinlove,andtheirjourneytofindsomesmallsanctuaryinaworldgonemad withwar.Byturnsbeautifulandtragic,tenderandharshlyrealistic,_AFarewellto Arms_ isoneofthesupremeliteraryachievemen tsofourtime. Copyright1929 byCharlesScribner'sSons Copyrightrenewed1957byErnestHemingway SCRIBNER 1230AvenueoftheAmericas NewYork,NY10020 Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,places, andincidentseitherareproductsoftheauthor'simaginationorar e usedfictitiously.Anyresemblancetoactualeventsorlocalesorpersons, livingordead,isentirelycoincidental. Allrightsreservedincludingtherightofreproductioninwholeorinpartinanyform. ISBN0684837889 AFAREWELLTOARMS BOOKONE 1 Inthelatesummerofthatyearwelivedinahouseinavillagethatlookedacross theriverandtheplaintothemountains.Inthebedoftherivertherewerepebblesand boulders,dryandwhiteinthesun,and thewaterwasclearandswiftlymovingandbluein thechannels.Troopswentbythehouseanddowntheroadandthedusttheyraised powderedthel eavesofthetrees.Thetrunksofthetreestooweredustyandtheleaves fellearlythatyearandwesawthetroopsmarchingalongtheroadandthedustrisingand leaves,stirredbythebreeze,fallingandthesoldiersmarching andafterwardtheroad bareandwhiteexceptfortheleaves. Thepl ainwasrichwithcrops;thereweremanyor chardsoffruittreesandbeyond theplainthemountainswerebrownandbare.Therewasfightinginthemountainsa ndat nightwecouldseetheflashesfromtheartillery.Inthedarkitwaslikesummerlightning, butthenightswerecoolandtherewasnotthefeelingofastormcoming. Sometimesinthedarkweheardthetr oopsmarchingunderthewindowandguns goingpastpulledbymotortractors.Therewasmuchtrafficatnightandmanymuleson theroadswithb oxesofammunitiononeachsideoftheirpacksaddlesandgraymotor trucksth atcarriedmen,andothertruckswi thloadscoveredwithcanvasthatmoved slowerinthetraffic.Therewerebiggunstootha tpassedinthedaydrawnbytractors,the longbarrelsofthegunscoveredwithgreenbranchesandgreenleafybranchesandvines laidoverthetractors.Tothenorthwecouldlookacrossavalleyandseeaforestof chestnuttreesandbehinditanothermountainonthissideoftheriver.Therewasfighting forth atmount aintoo,butitwasnotsuccessful,andinthefallwhentherainscamethe leavesallfellfromthechestnuttreesandthebrancheswerebareandthetrunksblack withrain.Thevineyardswerethinandbarebranchedtooandallthecountrywetand brownandde adwiththeautumn.Thereweremistsovertheriverandcloudsonthe mountain andthetruckssplashedmudontheroadandthetroopsweremud dyandwetin theircapes;theirrifleswerewetandundertheircapesthetwoleathercartridgeboxeson thefr ontofthebelts,grayleatherboxesheavywiththepacksofclipsofthin,long6.5mm. cartridges,bulgedforwardunderthecapessothatthemen,passingontheroad,marched asthoughtheyweresixmonthsgonewithchild. Thereweresmallgraymotorcarsthat passedgoingveryfast;usuallytherewasan officerontheseatwiththedriverandmoreofficersinthebackseat.Theysplashedmore mudthanthecamionsevenandifoneoftheofficersinthebackwasverysmallan d sittingbetweentwogener als,hehimselfsosmallth atyoucouldnotseehisfacebutonly thetopofhiscapandhisnarrowback,andifthecarwentespeciallyfastitwasprobably theKing.HelivedinUdineandcameoutinthiswaynearlyeverydaytoseehowthings weregoing,andthingswentverybadly. Atthestartofthewintercamethepermanentrainandwiththeraincamethe cholera.Butitwascheckedandintheendonlyseventhousanddiedofitinthearmy. 2 Thenextyearthereweremanyvictories.Themountainthatwasbeyondthevalley andthehillsidewherethechestnutforestgrewwascapturedandtherewerevictories beyondtheplainontheplateautothesouthandwecrossedtheriverinAugustandli ved inahouseinGoriziathathadafountainandmanythickshadytreesinawalledgarden andawistariavinepurpleonthesideofthehouse.Nowthefighting wasinthenext mountains beyondandwasnotamileaway.Thetownwasveryniceandourhousewas veryfine .The riverranbehindusandthetownhadbeencapturedveryhandsomelybut themountainsbeyonditcouldnotbetakenandIwasverygladtheAustriansseemedto wanttocomebacktothetownsometime,ifthewarshoulde nd,becausetheydidnot bombardittodestroyitbutonlyalittleinamili taryway.Peoplelivedoninitandthere werehospitalsandcafésandartilleryupsidestreetsandtwobawdyhouses,onefor troopsandoneforofficers,andwiththeendofthesummer,thecoolnights,thefightingin themountainsbeyondthetown,theshellmarkedironoftherailwaybridge,thesmashed tunnelbytheriverwherethefightinghadbeen,thetreesaroundthesquareandthelong avenueoftreesthatledtothesquare;thesewiththerebeinggirlsinthetown,theKing passinginhismot orcar,sometimesnowseeinghisfaceandlittlelongneckedbodyand grayb eardlikeagoat'schintuft;allthesewiththesuddeninteriorsofhousesthathadlost awallthroughshelling,withplasteran drub bleintheirgardensandsometimesinthe street,andthewholethinggoingwellontheCarsomadethefallverydifferentfromthe lastfallwhenwehadbeeninthecountry.Thewarwaschangedtoo. Theforestofoaktreesonthemountainbeyondthetownwasgone.Theforesthad beengreeninthesummerwhenwehadcomeintothetownbutnowtherewerethe stumpsandthebrokentrunksandthegroundtornup,andonedayattheendofthefall whenIwasoutwheretheoakforesthadbeenIsawacloudcomingoverthemountain.It cameveryfastandthesunwentadullyellowandtheneverythingwasgrayandthesky wascoveredandthecloudcameondownthemountainandsuddenlywewereinitandit wassnow.Thesnowslantedacrossthewind,thebaregroundwascovered,thestumps oftreesprojected,therewassnowonthegunsandtherewerepathsinthesnowgoing backtothelatrinesbehindtrenches. Later ,belowinthetown,Iwatchedthesnowfalling,lookingoutofthewindowof thebawdyhouse,thehouseforofficers,whereIsatwithafriendandtwoglassesdrinking abottleofAsti,and,lookingoutatthesnowfallingslowlyandheavily,weknewitwasall overforthatyear.Uptheriverthemountainshadnotbeentaken;noneo fthemountains beyondtheriverhadbeentaken.Thatwasallleftfornextyear.Myfriendsawthepriest fromourmessgoingbyinthestreet,walkingcarefullyintheslush,andpoundedonthe windowtoattracthisattention.Thepriestlookedup.Hesawusandsmiled.Myfriend motionedforhimtocomein.Thepriestshookhisheadandwenton.Thatnightinthe messafterthespaghetticourse,whicheveryoneateveryquicklyandseriously,liftingthe spaghettiontheforkuntiltheloosestrandshungclearthenloweringitintothemouth,or elseusingacontinuousliftandsuckingintothemouth,helpingourselvestowinefromthe grasscoveredgallonflask;itswun ginametalcradleandyoupulledtheneckoftheflask downwiththeforefingerandthewine,clearred,tan nicandlovely,pouredoutintothe glassheldwiththesameh and;afterthiscourse,thecaptaincommencedpickingonthe priest. Thepriestwasyoungandblushedeasilyandworeauniformliketherestofusbut withacrossindarkredvelvetabovetheleftbreastpocketofhisgraytunic.Thecaptain spokepidginItalianformydoubtfulbenefit,inorderthatImightunderstandperfectly,that nothingshouldbelost. "Priesttodaywithgirls,"thecaptainsaidlookingatthepriestandatme.Thepriest smiledandblushedandshookhishead.Thiscaptainbaitedhimof ten. "Nottrue?"askedthecaptain."TodayIseepriestwithgirls." "No,"saidthepriest.Theotherofficerswereamusedatthebaiting. "Priestnotwithgirls,"wentonthecaptain."Priestneverwithgirls,"heexplainedto me.Hetookmyglassandfilledit,lookingatmyeyesallthetime,butnotlosingsightof thepri est. "Priesteverynightfiveagainstone."Everyoneatthetablelaughed."You understand?Priesteverynightfiveagainstone."Hemadeagestureandlaughedloudly. Thepriestaccepteditasajoke. "ThePopewantstheAustrianstowinthewar,"themajorsaid."HelovesFranz Joseph.That'swhere themoneycomesfrom.Iamanatheist." "Di dyoueverreadthe'BlackPig'?"askedtheli eutenant."Iwillgetyouacopy.It wasthatwhichshookmyfaith." "Itisafilthyandvilebook,"saidthepriest." Youdonotreallylikeit." "Itisveryvaluable,"saidthelieutenant."Ittellsyouaboutthosepriests.Youwill likeit,"he saidtome.Ismiledatthepriestandhesmil edbackacrossthecandlelight. "Don'tyour eadit," hesaid. "Iwill getitforyou, "saidthelieuten ant. "Allthinkingmenareatheists,"themajorsaid."IdonotbelieveintheFreeMasons however." "Ibelieve intheFreeMasons,"thelieutenantsaid."Itisanobleorganization." SomeonecameinandasthedooropenedIcouldseethesnowfalling. "Therewillbenomoreoffensivenowthatthesnowhascome,"Isaid. "Certainlynot,"saidthemajor."Youshouldgoonleave.You shouldgotoRome, Naples,Sicily" "HeshouldvisitAmalfi,"saidthelieutenant."Iwillwriteyoucardstomyfamilyin Amalfi.Theywillloveyoulikeason." "Heshouldgoto Palermo." "HeoughttogotoCapri." "Iwouldlike youtoseeAbruzziandvisitmyfamilyatCapracotta,"saidthepriest. "ListentohimtalkabouttheAbruzzi.There'smoresnowtherethanhere.He doesn'twanttoseepeasants.Lethimgotocentresofcultureandcivilization." "Heshouldhavefinegirls.IwillgiveyoutheaddressesofplacesinNaples. Beautifulyounggirlsaccompaniedbytheirmothers.Ha!Ha!Ha!"Thecaptainspreadhis handopen,thethumbupandfingersoutspreadaswhenyoumakeshadowpictures. Therewasashadowfromhishandonthewall.HespokeagaininpidginItalian."Yougo awaylikethis,"hepointedtothethumb,"andcomebacklikethis,"hetouchedthelittle finger.Everyonelaughed. "Look,"saidthecaptain.Hespreadthehandagain.Againthecandlelightmadeits shadowsonthewall.Hestartedwiththeuprightthumbandnamedintheirorderthe thumbandfourfingers,"sototenente(thethumb),tenente(firstfinger),capitano(next finger),maggiore(nexttothelittlefinger),andte nentecolonello(thelittlefinger).Yougo awaysototenente!Youcomeb acksotocolonello!"Theyalllaughed.Thecaptainwas havingagreatsuccesswithfingergames.Helookedatthepriestandshouted,"Every nightpriestfiveagainstone!"Theyalllaughedagain. "Youmustgoonleaveatonce,"themajorsaid. "Iwouldlike togowithyouandshowyouthings,"thelieutenantsaid. "W henyoucomeba ckbringaphonograph." "Bringgoodoperadisks." "BringCaruso." "Don'tbring Caruso.Hebellows." "Don'tyouwishyoucouldbellowlikehim?" "Hebellows.Isayhebellows!" "Iwouldlike youtogotoAbruzzi,"thepriestsaid.Theotherswereshouting ."There isgoodhunting.Youwouldlikethepeopleandthoughitiscolditisclearanddry.You couldstaywithmyfamily.Myfatherisafamoushunter." "Comeon,"saidthecaptain."Wegowhorehousebeforeitshuts." "Goodnight,"Isaidtothepriest. "Goodnight,"hesaid. 3 WhenIcamebacktothefrontwestilllivedinthattown.Thereweremanymore gunsinthecountryaroundandthespringhadcome.The fieldsweregreenandthere weresmallgreenshootsonthevines,thetreesalongtheroadhadsmallleavesanda breezecamefromthesea.Isawthetownwiththe hillandtheoldcastleaboveitinacup inthehillswiththemountainsbeyond,brownmountainswithalittlegreenontheirslopes. Inthetownthereweremoreguns,therewer esomenewhospitals,youmetBritishmen andsometimeswomen,onthestreet,andafewmorehouseshadbeenhitbyshellfire.Jt waswarmandliketh espringandIwalkeddownthealleywayoftrees,warmedfromth e sunonthewall,andfoundwestilllivedinthesamehouseandthatitalllookedthesame aswhenIhadleftit.Thedoorwasopen,therewasasoldiersittingonabenchoutsidein thesun,anambulancewaswaitingbythesidedoorandinsidethedoor,asIwentin, therewasthesmellofmarblefloorsandhospital .ItwasallasIhadleftitexceptthatnow itwasspring.Ilookedinthedoorofthebigroomandsawthemajorsittingathisdesk,the windowopenandthesunlightcomi ngi ntotheroom.Hedidnotseemeand Ididnotknow whethertogoinandreportorgoupstairsfirstandcleanup.Idecidedtogoonupstairs. TheroomIsharedwiththelieutenantRinaldilookedoutonthecourtyard.The windowwasopen,mybedwasmadeupwithblanketsandmythingshungonthewall, thegasmaskinanoblongtincan,thesteelhelmetonthesamepeg.Atthefootofthe bedwasmyflattrunk,andmywinterboots,theleathershinywithoil,wereonthetrunk. MyAustrian sniper'sriflewithitsbluedoctagonbarrelandthelovelydarkwalnut,cheek fitted,schutzenstock,hungoverthetwobeds.Thetelescopethatfitteditwas,I remembered,lockedinthetrunk.Thelieutenant,Rinaldi,layasleepontheotherbed.He wokewhenheheardmeintheroomandsatup. "Ci aou!" hesaid."W hatkindoftimedidyouhave?" "Magnificent." Weshookhandsandheputhisarmaroundmyne ckandkissedme. "Oughf ,"Isaid.  "You'redirty,"hesaid."Yououghttowash.Wheredidyougoandwhatdidyoudo? Tellmeeverythingatonce." "Iwenteverywhere.Milan,Florence,Rome,Naples,VillaSanGiovanni,Messina, Taormi na" "Youtalklikeatimetable.Didyouhaveanybeautifuladventures?" "Yes." "W here?" "Milano,Firenze,Roma,Nap oli" "That'senough.Tellmereallywhatwasthebest." "InMilano." "Thatwasbecauseitwasfirst.Wheredidyoumeether?IntheCova?Wheredid yougo?Howdidyoufeel?Tellmeeverythingatonce.Didyoustayallnight?" "Yes." "That'snothing.Herenowwehavebeautifulgi rls.Newgirlsneverbeentothefront befor e." "W onderful." "Youdon'tbelieveme?Wewillgonowthisafternoonandsee.Andinthetownwe havebeautifulEnglishgirls.IamnowinlovewithMissBarkley.Iwilltakeyoutocall.Iwill probablymarryMissBarkley." "Ihavetogetwash edandreport.Doesn'tanybodyworknow?" "Sinceyouaregonewehavenothingbutfrostbites,chilblains,jaundice,gonorrhea, selfinflictedwounds,pneumoniaandhardandsoftchancres.Everyweeksomeonegets woundedbyrockfragments.Thereareafewrealwounded.Nextweekthewarstarts again.Perhapsitstartagain.Theysayso.DoyouthinkIwoulddorighttomarryMiss Barkleyafterthewarofcourse?" "Absolutely,"Isaidandpouredthebasinfullofwater. "Tonightyouwilltellmeeverything,"saidRinaldi."NowImustgobackto sleepto befreshandbeautifulforMissBarkley." Itookoffmytunicandshirtandwashedinthecoldwaterinthebasin.WhileI rubbedmyselfwithatowelIlookedaroundtheroomandoutthewindowandatRinaldi lyingwithhiseyes closedonthebed.Hewasgoodlooking,wasmyage,andhecame fromAmalfi.Helovedbeingasurgeonandweweregrea tfriends.WhileIwaslookingat himheopenedhiseyes. "Haveyou anymoney?" "Yes." "Loanmefiftylire." Idried myhandsandtookoutmypocketbookfromtheinsideofmytunichanging onthewall.Rinalditookthenote,foldeditwithoutrisingfromthebedandsliditinhis breechespocket.Hesmiled,"Imustmake onMissBarkleytheimpressionofamanof  sufficientwealth.Youaremygreatandgoodfriendandfinancialprotector." "Goto hell,"Isaid. ThatnightatthemessIsatnexttothepriestandhewasdisappointedand suddenlyhurtthatIhadnotgonetotheAbruzzi.HehadwrittentohisfatherthatIwas comingandtheyhadmadepreparations.Imyselffeltasbadlyashedidandcouldnot understandwhyIhadnotgone.ItwaswhatI hadwantedtodoandItriedtoexplainhow onethinghadledtoanotherandfinallyhesawitandunderstoodthatIhadreallywanted togoanditwasalmostallright.Ih addrunkmuchwineandafterwardcoffeeandStrega andIexplained,winefully,howwedidnot dothethingswewantedtodo;weneverdid suchthings. Wetwowereta lkingwhiletheothersargued.IhadwantedtogotoAbruzzi.Ihad gonetonoplacewheretheroadswerefrozenandhardasiron,whereitwasclearcold anddryandthesnowwasdryandpowderyandharetracksinthesnowandthepeasants tookofftheirhatsandcalledyouLordandther ewasgoodhunting.Ihadgonetonosuch placebuttothesmokeofcafésandnightswhentheroomwhirledandyouneededtolook atthewalltomakeitstop,nightsinbed,drunk,whenyouknewthatthatwasallthere was,andthestrangeexcitementofwakingandnotknowingwhoitwaswithyou,andthe worldallunrealinthedarkandsoexcitingthatyoumustresumeagai nunknowingan dnot caringinthenight,surethatthiswasallandallandallandnotcaring.Suddenlytocare verymuchandtosleeptowakewithitsometimesmorningandallthathadbeenthere goneandeverythingsharpandhardandclearandsometimesadisputeaboutthecost. Sometimesstillpleasantandfondandwarmandbreakfastandlunch.Sometimesall nicenessgoneandgladtogetoutonthestreetbutalwaysanotherdaystartingandthen anothernigh t.Itriedtotellaboutthenightandthedifferencebetweenthenightandthe dayandhowthenightwasbetterunlessthedaywasverycleanandcoldandIcouldnot tellit;asIcannottellitnow.Butifyouhavehadityouknow.Hehadnothaditbuthe understoodthatIhadreallywantedtogototheAbruzzibuthadnotgoneandwewerestill friends,withmanytastesalike,butwiththedifferencebetweenus.Hehadalwaysknown whatIdidnotknowandwhat,whenIlearnedit,Iwasalwaysabletoforget.ButIdidnot knowthatthen,althoughIlearneditlater.Inthemeanti mewewereallatthemess, the mealwasfinished,andtheargumen twenton.Wetwost oppedtalkingandthecaptain shouted,"Priestnothappy.Priestnothappywithoutgirls." "Iamhappy,"saidthepriest. "Priestnothappy.PriestwantsAustrianstowinthewar,"thecaptainsaid.The other slistened.T hepriestshookhishead. "No,"hesaid. "Priestwantsusnevertoattack.Don'tyouwantusnevertoattack?" "No.IfthereisawarIsupposewemustattack." "Mustattack.Shallattack! " Thepriestnodded. "Leavehimalone,"themajorsaid."He'sallright." "Hecan'tdoanythingaboutitanyway,"thecaptainsaid.Weallgotupandleftthe table. 4 ThebatteryinthenextgardenwokemeinthemorningandIsawthesuncoming throu ghthewindowandgotoutofthebed.Iwenttothewindowandlookedout.The gravelpathsweremoistandthegrasswaswetwithdew.Thebatteryfiredtwiceandthe aircameeachtimelikeablowandshookthewindowandmadethefrontofmypajamas flap.Icouldnotseethegunsbuttheywereevidentlyfiring directlyoverus.Itwasa nuisancetohavethemtherebutitwasacomfortthattheywerenobigger.AsIlookedout atthegardenIheardamotortruckstartingontheroad.Idressed, wentdownstairs,had somecoffeeinthekitchenandwentouttothegarag e. Tencarswerelinedupsidebysideunderthelongshed.Theyweretopheavy, bluntnosedambulances,paintedgrayandbuiltlikemovingvans.Themechanicswere workingononeoutintheyard.Threeotherswereu pinthemountainsatdressing stations. "Dothey eversh ellthatbattery?"Taskedon eofthemechanics. "No,SignorTenente.Itisprotectedbythelittlehill." "How'severything?" "Notsob ad.T hismachineisnogoodbuttheothersmarch."Hestoppedworking andsmiled."Wereyouonpermission?" "Yes." Hewipedhishandsonhisjumperandgrinned."Youhaveagoodtime?"The other sallgrinnedtoo. "Fine,"Isaid."What'sthematterwiththismachine?" "It'snogood.Onethingafteranother." "W hat'sthematternow?" "Newrings." Ileftthemworking,thecarlookingdisgracedandemptywiththeengineopenand partsspreadontheworkbench,andwen tinundertheshedandlookedateachofthe cars.Theywere moderatelyclean,afewfreshlywashed,theothersdusty.Ilooked atthe tirescarefully,lookingforcutsorstonebruises.Everythingseemedingoodcondition.It evidentlymade nodifferencewhetherIwastheretolookafterthingsornot.Ihad imaginedthattheconditionofthecars,whetherornotthingswereobtainable,thesmooth functioningofthebusinessofremovingwoundedandsickfromthedressingstations, haulingthembackfromthemountai nstotheclearingstationandthendistributingthemto  thehospitalsnamedontheirpapers,dependedtoaconsiderableextentonmyself. EvidentlyitdidnotmatterwhetherIwasthereornot. "Hastherebeenanytroublegettingparts?"Iaskedthesergeantmechan ic. "No,SignorTenente." "W hereisthega solineparknow?" "Atthesameplace ." "Good, "Isaidandwentbacktotheho useanddrankanotherbowlofcoffeeatthe messtable.Thecoffeewasapalegrayandsweetwithcondensedmilk.Outsidethe windowitwasalovelyspringmorning.Therewasthatbeginningofafeelingofdrynessin thenosethatmeantth edaywouldbehotlateron.ThatdayIvisitedthepostsinthe mountains andwasbackintownlateintheafternoon. ThewholethingseemedtorunbetterwhileI wasaway.Theof fensivewasgoingto starta gainIheard.Thedivisionforwhichweworkedweretoattackataplaceuptheriver andthemajortoldmethatIwouldseeaboutthepostsforduringtheattack.Theattack wouldcrosstheriverupabovethenarrowgorgeandspreadupthehillside.Thepostsfor thecarswouldhavetobeasneartheriverastheycouldgetandkeepcovered.They would,ofcourse,beselectedbytheinfantrybutweweresupposedtoworkitout.Itwas oneofthosethingsthatgaveyouafalsefeelingofsoldiering. Iwasverydustyanddi rtyandwentuptomyroomtowash.Rinaldiwassittingon thebedwithacopyofHugo'sEnglishgrammar.Hewasdressed,worehisblackboots, andhishairshone. "Splendid,"hesaidwhenhesawme."Youwillcomewithmet oseeMissBarkley." "No. "Yes.Youwill pleasecomeandmakemeagoodimpression onher." "Allri ght.WaittillIgetcleanedup." "W ashupandcomeasyouare." Iwashed,brush edmyhairandwestarted. "W aitami nute,"Rinaldisaid."Perhapsweshouldhaveadrink."Heopenedhis trunkandtookoutabottle. "NotStrega,"Isaid. "No.Grappa." "Allri ght." Hepouredtwoglassesandwetouchedthem,firstfingersextended.Thegrappa wasverystrong. "Another?" "Allri ght,"Isaid.W edrankthesecondgrappa,Rinaldiputawaythebottleandwe wentdownthestairs.Itwashotwalkingthroughthet ownbutthesunwasstartingtogo downanditwasverypleasant.TheBritishhospitalwasabigvillabuiltbyGermansbefore thewar.MissBarkleywasinthegarden.Another nursewaswithher.Wesawthei rwhite uniformsthrou ghthetreesandwalkedtowardthem.Rinaldisaluted.Isalutedtoobut moremoderately. "Howdoyoudo?"MissBarkleysaid."You'renotanItalian,areyou?" "Oh,no." Rinaldiwastalkingwiththeothernurse.Theywerelaughing."Whatanoddthing tobeintheItalianarmy." "It'snotreallythearmy.It'sonlytheambulance." "It'sveryoddthough.Whydidyoudoit?" "Idon'tknow,"Isaid. "Thereisn'talwaysanexplanationforeverything." "Oh,isn'tthere?Iwasbroughtuptothinktherewas." "That'sawfullynice." "Dowehavetogoonandtalkthisway?" "No,"Isaid. "That'sarelief.Isn'tit?" "W hatisthestick?"Iasked.MissBarkleywasquitetall.Sheworewhatseemed to metobeanurse'suniform,wasblondeandhadatawnyskinandgraye yes.Ithoughtshe wasverybea utiful.Shewascarryingathinrattansticklikeatoyridingcrop,boundin leather. "Itbelongedtoaboywho waskilledlastyear." "I'mawfullysorry." "Hewasaveryniceboy.Hewasgoingtomarrymeandhewaskilledinthe Somme." "Itwasaghastlyshow." "W ereyouthere?" "No." "I'vehear daboutit,"shesaid."There'snotreallyanywarofthatsortdownhere. Theysentmethelittlestick.Hismothersentittome.Theyreturneditwithhisthings." "Hadyoubeenengagedlong?" "Eightyears.Wegrewuptogether." "Andwhydidn'tyoumarry?" "Idon'tknow,"shesai d."Iwasafoolnotto.Icouldhavegivenhimthatanyway. ButIthoughti twouldbebadforhim."  "Isee." "Haveyou everlovedanyone?" "No,"Isaid. WesatdownonabenchandIlookedather. "Youhavebeautifulhair," Isaid. "Doyoulikeit?" "Verymuch." "Iwasgoingtocutitalloffwhenhedied." "No." "Iwantedtodosomethingforhim.You seeIdidn'tcareabouttheotherthingand hecouldhavehaditall.HecouldhavehadanythinghewantedifIwouldhavekn own.I wouldhavemarriedhimoranything.Iknowallaboutitnow.Butthenhewantedtogoto warandIdidn'tknow." Ididnotsayanything. "Ididn'tknowaboutanythingthen.Ithoughtitwouldbeworseforhim.Ithought perhapshecouldn'tstanditandthenofcoursehewaskilledandthatwastheendofit." "Idon'tknow." "Oh,yes, "shesaid."That'stheendofit." WelookedatRinalditalkingwiththeothernurse. "W hatishername?" "Ferguson.HelenFerguson.Yourfriendisadoctor,isn'the?" "Yes.He'sverygood." "That'ssplendid.Yourarelyfindanyoneanygoodthisclosetothefront.Thisis closetothefront,i sn'tit?" "Quite." [...]... should drink cup for cup and glass for glass with Bassi, Fillipo Vincenza. Bassi said no  that was no test because he had already drunk twice as much as I. I said that was a foul  lie and, Bacchus or no Bacchus, Fillipo Vincenza Bassi or Bassi Fillippo Vicenza had  never touched a drop all evening and what was his name anyway? He said was my name  Frederico Enrico or Enrico Federico? I said let the best man win, Bacchus barred, and the ... the year before because there was only one road leading down from the pass to the  pontoon bridge and it was under machine­gun and shell fire for nearly a mile. It was not  wide enough either to carry all the transport for an offensive and the Austrians could make  a shambles out of it. But the Italians had crossed and spread out a little way on the far  side to hold about a mile and a half on the Austrian side of the river. It was a nasty place ... Maybe it would finish this summer. Maybe the Austrians would crack. They had always  cracked in other wars. What was the matter with this war? Everybody said the French  were through. Rinaldi said that the French had mutinied and troops marched on Paris. I  asked him what happened and he said, "Oh, they stopped them." I wanted to go to Austria  without war. I wanted to go to the Black Forest. I wanted to go to the Hartz Mountains.  Where were the Hartz Mountains anyway? They were fighting in the Carpathians. I ... a drink with him and two other officers. We drank rum and it was very friendly. Outside it  was getting dark. I asked what time the attack was to he and they said as soon as it was  dark. I went back to the drivers. They were sitting in the dugout talking and when I came in  they stopped. I gave them each a package of cigarettes, Macedonias, loosely packed  cigarettes that spilled tobacco and needed to have the ends twisted before you smoked  them. Manera lit his lighter and passed it around. The lighter was shaped like a Fiat ... with the Austrians. The Austrian army was created to give Napoleon victories; any  Napoleon. I wished we had a Napoleon, but instead we had Ii Generale Cadorna, fat and  prosperous and Vittorio Emmanuele, the tiny man with the long thin neck and the goat  beard. Over on the right they had the Duke of Aosta. Maybe he was too good­looking to be a.  great general but he looked like a man. Lots of them would have liked him to be ... Gorizia but they were uncomfortable and too bloody theatrical in a town where the civilian  inhabitants had not been evacuated. I wore one when we went up to the posts and carried  an English gas mask. We were just beginning to get some of them. They were a real  mask. Also we were required to wear an automatic pistol; even doctors and sanitary  officers. I felt it against the back of the chair. You were liable to arrest if you did not have  one worn in plain sight. Rinaldi carried a holster stuffed with toilet paper. I wore a real one ... We looked at each other in the dark. I thought she was very beautiful and I took her  hand. She let me take it and I held it and put my arm around under her arm.  "No," she said. I kept my arm where it was.  "Why not?"  "No."  "Yes," I said. "Please." I leaned forward in the dark to kiss her and there was a sharp stinging flash. She had slapped my face hard. Her hand had hit my nose and eyes,  and tears came in my eyes from the reflex. ... "Good evening," I said.  "A rivederci, Tenente."  "A rivederla." I saluted and went out. It was impossible to salute foreigners as an  Italian, without embarrassment. The Italian salute never seemed made for export.  The day had been hot. I had been up the river to the bridgehead at Plava. It was  there that the offensive was to begin. It had been impossible to advance on the far side  the year before because there was only one road leading down from the pass to the ... It was nearly dark when we came down and turned onto the main road that ran  beside the river.  9 The road was crowded and there were screens of corn­stalk and straw matting on  both sides and matting over the top so that it was like the entrance at a circus or a native  village. We drove slowly in this matting­covered tunnel and came out onto a bare cleared  space where the railway station had been. The road here was below the level of the river  bank and all along the side of the sunken road there were holes dug in the bank with ... side to hold about a mile and a half on the Austrian side of the river. It was a nasty place  and the Austrians should not have let them hold it. I suppose it was mutual tolerance  because the Austrians still kept a bridgehead further down the river. The Austrian trenches  were above on the hillside only a few yards from the Italian lines. There had been a little  town but it was all rubble. There was what was left of a railway station and a smashed  permanent bridge that could not be repaired and used because it was in plain sight.  . hell,"Isaid. ThatnightatthemessIsatnext to thepriestandhewasdisappointedand suddenlyhurtthatIhadnotgone to theAbruzzi.Hehadwritten to hisfatherthatIwas comingandtheyhadmadepreparations.Imyselffeltasbadlyashedidandcouldnot understandwhyIhadnotgone.ItwaswhatI hadwanted to doandItried to explainhow onethinghadled to anotherandfinallyhesawitandunderstoodthatIhadreallywanted to goanditwasalmostallright.Ih addrunkmuchwineandafterwardcoffeeandStrega andIexplained,winefully,howwedidnot. strangeandmysterious.Thiswas a strangeand mysteriouswarzonebutIsupposeditwasquitewellrunandgrimcompared to otherwars withtheAustrians.TheAustrianarmywascreated to giveNapoleonvictories;any Napoleon.Iwishedwehad a Napoleon,butinsteadwehadIiGeneraleCadorna,fatand prosperousandVittorioEmmanuele,thetinymanwiththelongthinneckandthegoat beard.OverontherighttheyhadtheDukeofAosta.Maybehewastoogoodlooking to be a. greatgeneralbuthelookedlike a man.L. A Farewell To Arms byErnestHemingway Flyleaf: ThegreatestAmericannovel to emerge fromWorldWarI, _A Farewell to Arms_  cementedErnestHemingway'sreputationasoneofthemostimportantnovelistsofthe twentiethcentur