War

Ernest Hemingway personally witnessed a series of wars in Europe, including World Wars I and II, and the Spanish Civil War. These experiences are shown in his short stories. Two of his enduring characters, Nick Adams and Edwin Henry, each provide commentary on the war that they observe. In addition to their perspectives, many stories tell of the violence and heartbreak of war, linking it to an ideal of true manhood.

Nick Adams experiences World War I, and the stories about him incorporate many of Hemingway's own experiences. The defining experience for both Hemingway and Nick is his injury while serving on the Italian front. This injury shakes both the character and the man. This experience shapes the idea of the "Lost Generation," or the soldiers who do not understand the meaning of the war that they fight and see the whole production as senseless. At the same...