“A beautiful portrait of being in Paris in the glittering 1920s—as a wife and as one’s own woman.”—Entertainment Weekly
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures the love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.
Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and … love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking, fast-living, and free-loving life of Jazz Age Paris. As Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history and pours himself into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises, Hadley strives to hold on to her sense of self as her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Eventually they find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.
A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.
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Enjoyed it!
I knew about as much as most about these literary icons. The things I did not know I found fascinating, and The Paris Wife persuaded me to explore further the lives of these American artists. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read!
I thought this book was well written from Ernst Heminway’s Wife Hadley point of view, early years to their split. An eye opener about Paris after ww 1 and how it attracted artists of all kinds. A window into their life and movement around Europe in those days.
I enjoyed this book, which is as much about Hemingway as it is his first wife. During and after reading, I looked up biographical information about Hadley and found this story, although fiction, to be very faithful to the facts about their marriage. I have a little more sympathy for Hemingway than I had before I read this, and a lot of respect for …
Who could have guessed Hemmingway could be so heartless as to abandon this wonderful woman? This was a fascinating tale of Hemmingway’s early life and his rise to world reknown.
I loved the life of a upcoming writer and his wife
making the best of their life mixed with parties, booze and travel, and war time.
Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, was The Paris Wife, with whom he lived in Jazz Age Paris, while establishing himself as one of the pre-eminent writers of the 20th century. Paula McLain draws the reader into the heart of a city still grappling with the privations of war, and into the circle of expat writers and artists seeking to …
Knew what was going to occur and this made the book easier to read!
Interesting characters, of course, and historically interesting as well
learned more about Ernest Hemingway
My sister-in-law visited the Hemingway House in Key West and surprised me with a copy of this delightful book. Hadley Richardson was 28 years old when she met 21-year-old Ernest Hemingway. They fell in love and after a whirlwind courtship, they got married. Ernest was a struggling author and Hadley was living on a monthly inheritance and, after …
I came upon this book while traveling. I liked it so much that I downloaded two others of hers. It reads like a memoir, and the depiction of the cast of characters involved with Hemingway and his first wife, springs to life at her hand. I found it very entertaining and also very sad. I highly recommend.
Told from the point of view of a genius’ wife. Not an easy role in life.
Could not put it down. Did not want the romance to end. Inspired me to read about his other wives and also read his books again.
Having had a teacher who was Hemingway obsessed, having studied the man because of his great work, Michigan connection (I was born, raised and still live in Michigan) and larger than life personality, I had to read the book. Ms. McLain takes facts from Hemingway letters and memorabilia, from public records and other authors, and weaves that …
The writing is exquisite and the depth of description remarkable.
Well-written. Couldn’t put it down!
Ernest Hemingway: a legend, but I knew little about him. This story, told from his first wife’s point of view, makes for a fascinating picture of a complex individual. Very well written.
Definite choice for any fan or person interested in Hemingway.
This angle of observation and perspective of this phase of his life is quite a door into knowledge about the man and his times.
Insight into the characters and their lives.