“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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One of many Hemingway books but good
Boring. How could a man with such an exciting reputation live such a tedious life. poorly written. Struggled thru the first 100 pages then gave up.
I loved Hemingway’s writing. This well researched book about his first wife explained a good deal about the man whom I understood to be difficult but brilliant. This book did not disappoint. Recommended for all readers.
Just finished The Paris Wife and it was an eye opener for me. Not at all the man I thought I knew as Ernest Hemingway. The younger floundering writer and his first wife. And the life they lead in Europe back in early 1920s. Interesting unusual life being drawn in with the jet setting drinkers of the 1920s.
Great read, makes me want to learn more about both of these people.
Hemingway’s 1st wife, 1st child, 1st published book his struggles and successes.
Dull
Life with all the famous expatriates in Europe, as told by Ernest Hemingway’s first wife. I was not enthralled with this book. I found it to be tedious in many places. So much is said about so many people without any real insights–as if no one, including her husband–was more than an acquaintance. No attempt is made to explain her thinking in …
One of my favorite books!
Seems to capture the voices of the characters in a true to life way
Fascinating look at Hemingway’s life. I came away thinking, “what an arrogant, egotistical jerk.” He really wasn’t a nice person. I’m glad his first wife was able to find happiness with someone else. He really put her through hell.
Very interesting and entertaining story of Hadley and Ernest Hemingway.
This is a really good read – well written, well researched and very human. Felt like I knew all the characters, makes you feel like you were there!
I was hooked from the prologue. This book was a great take on Hemingway’s first wife. I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing and style that the author chose.
It is all about the writers, poets and painters who lived in Paris at the time. Plus a romance weaving through it.
Enjoyable but a little flat.
Enjoyed the era from what might have been Hadley’s point of view, a bit like Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.
One of the best books I’ve ever read
a most entertaining story, beautifully written and entirely believable.
Great read. Slightly disappointing in typical offbeat characters of our past generations authors low moals and expectations of life. You