Ernest Hemingway, one of the most acclaimed American novelists and short-story writers of the 20th century, is renowned for his terse and direct prose style and his adventurous life, which often informed his works. Born in 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois, Hemingway's early experiences as an ambulance driver during World War I are mirrored in his novel "A Farewell to Arms." His time in Paris in the 1920s as part of the "Lost Generation," and his exploits in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and in Africa on safari also heavily influenced his writing. Some of his other famous works include "The Sun Also Rises," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and "The Old Man and the Sea," the latter of which won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1953, followed by the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
❝There is no friend as loyal as a book.❞ — Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway's fondness for reading was well-known, with his reading interests as robust and wide-ranging as his lifestyles. He was an avid reader of classic literature, poetry, and contemporary works, and he believed in the fundamental importance of reading for any writer. Hemingway often emphasized the need for writers to be well-versed in the literature of their predecessors and contemporaries, seeing this as crucial to honing their craft. His personal library included works by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Flaubert, reflecting his respect for their literary techniques and their influence on his own style.
Ernest Hemingway's Favorite Books
Last Updated: June 2024
Queen Margot: A Play in Five Acts
Author: Frank J. Morlock
Publisher: Borgo Press
Date: Feb 6th, 2013
An adaptation likely based on Alexandre Dumas's novel, this play dramatizes the political and romantic intrigues of Marguerite de Valois (known as Queen Margot), set against the backdrop of the French Wars of Religion and the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
The Brothers Karamazov
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date: Jun 14th, 2002
This profound novel delves into the lives of the Karamazov family, focusing on their internal moral struggles, profound philosophical dialogues, and the search for faith and meaning amidst personal tragedy.
In Search of Lost Time
Author: Marcel Proust
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Jun 3rd, 2003
Proust's monumental work, a seven-volume masterpiece of 20th-century literature, examines the intricacies of time, memory, and desire, chronicling the narrator's experiences in French high society and his quest to define himself and his past.
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Peter Simple
Author: Frederick Marryat
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Apr 15th, 2022
Marryat's comedic novel follows the naive Peter Simple as he joins the Royal Navy and stumbles through various adventures, learning about life and the world through his interactions and misfortunes.
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The Republic
Author: Charles A. Beard
Publisher: Viking Adult
Date: Jan 1st, 1943
Not to be confused with Plato's work of the same name, this book by Beard might examine American governance or political systems, considering Beard's reputation for analyzing the economic interests behind the U.S. Constitution (assuming the topic aligns with Beard's well-known historical and political analysis).
The American
Author: Henry James
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Nov 11th, 2021
This novel tells the story of Christopher Newman, a wealthy American businessman who ventures to Europe to enter its social circles and navigates the complexities of aristocratic society with varying degrees of naivety and sophistication.
Dubliners
Author: James Joyce
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Jun 1st, 1993
A collection of fifteen short stories that together paint an incisive portrait of Dublin life, capturing the mundane and dramatic moments of the city's inhabitants at the turn of the 20th century with sharp realism and deep empathy.
Winesburg, Ohio
Author: Sherwood Anderson
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Oct 4th, 2021
A pioneering work of modernist literature, this collection of interrelated short stories paints a portrait of the fictional town of Winesburg, exploring the personal tragedies, frustrations, and longings of its residents.
Fathers and Sons
Author: Ivan Turgenev
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Mar 9th, 2000
Turgenev's novel explores the ideological conflict between the older generation, adhering to traditional Russian values, and the nihilistic youth of the 1860s, focusing on the character Bazarov, a radical who challenges the status quo but faces personal dilemmas and tragedies.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Author: James Joyce
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date: May 7th, 2013
This semi-autobiographical novel details the intellectual awakening of Stephen Dedalus as he grows up in Dublin, rejects his religious and cultural constraints, and dedicates himself to the pursuit of becoming an artist.
Joseph Andrews and Shamela
Author: Henry Fielding
Publisher: SMK Books
Date: Apr 3rd, 2018
This novel presents a satirical look at contemporary novels of virtue and chastity through the adventures of Joseph Andrews, who starts as a footman and travels home to find his beloved, paralleled with "Shamela," a parody of Samuel Richardson's "Pamela," where Fielding humorously exposes the novel's moral pretensions.
Anna Karenina
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: May 1st, 2004
Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece traces the tragic love affair between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky, set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century Russian society, exploring themes of passion, loyalty, and societal norms.
Mr. Midshipman Easy
Author: Frederick Marryat
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Apr 5th, 2022
This novel follows the nautical adventures and misadventures of Jack Easy as he joins the Royal Navy, where he confronts the harsh realities of naval discipline and espouses his father's eccentric philosophies to his shipmates.
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The Gambler
Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Nov 9th, 2021
Written under financial pressure, Dostoevsky's novel is a psychological exploration of the compulsive gambling Dostoevsky himself struggled with, portrayed through the character of Alexei, who falls in love with Polina, a woman equally trapped in the destructive world of roulette.
The Red Badge of Courage
Author: Stephen Crane
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Mar 4th, 2023
Crane's novel, set during the American Civil War, follows a young soldier named Henry Fleming, who grapples with fear and courage as he tries to prove his bravery to himself and his comrades.
The Open Boat by Stephen Crane
Author: Stephen Crane
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: Nov 6th, 2013
Based on Crane's own experience of surviving a shipwreck, this poignant naturalist story details the struggles of four men in a lifeboat battling the sea's wrath, highlighting their collective fight against nature's indifference to human suffering.
Napoleon's Invasion of Russia
Author: Eugene Tarle
Publisher: George Allen & Unwin Ltd
Date: Feb 17th, 2025
Tarle's historical account provides a detailed analysis of Napoleon Bonaparte's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, exploring the military strategies, political background, and the catastrophic consequences that led to the great retreat of the Grand Army.
Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Brontë
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Dec 31st, 2002
Brontë's only novel is a dark, passionate tale of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, set against the moody backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring themes of vengeance, social class, and the supernatural.
The Naval Officer
Author: Frank Mildmay Frederick Marryat
Publisher: Legare Street Press
Date: Oct 27th, 2022
Based partly on Marryat's own experiences, this novel details the life and career of Frank Mildmay as he progresses through the ranks of the British Navy, facing battles, duels, and romantic entanglements.
Dante's Inferno
Author: Dante Alighieri
Publisher: Tgc Press
Date: Jan 16th, 2024
The first part of Dante's epic poem "The Divine Comedy" describes Dante's journey through the nine circles of Hell, guided by the ancient Roman poet Virgil, as an allegorical account of the soul's journey towards God.
The Portrait of a Lady
Author: Henry James
Publisher: Xist Classics
Date: Sep 28th, 2015
James's novel follows the spirited young American, Isabel Archer, who inherits a large amount of money and subsequently becomes entangled in disastrous romantic and personal relationships, ultimately confronting the limitations of her freedom.
Sentimental Education
Author: Gustave Flaubert
Publisher: Simon & Brown
Date: Oct 30th, 2018
The novel tells the story of Frédéric Moreau and his unrequited love for Madame Arnoux, set against the backdrop of the 1848 French Revolution, depicting his journey through the illusions of romance to the disenchantment of reality.
The Enormous Room
Author: E E 1894-1962 Cummings
Publisher: Legare Street Press
Date: Oct 26th, 2022
Cummings' autobiographical novel, based on his experiences as a detainee in a French internment camp during World War I, combines surreal and grotesque satire with his distinctive poetic prose to critique arbitrary authority and celebrate personal resilience.
King Lear
Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Oct 20th, 2015
This tragic play tells the story of Lear, an aging king who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on who loves him most, leading to betrayal, madness, and profound tragedy.
The Complete Poems of San Juan de la Cruz
Author: María Baranda
Publisher: Milkweed Editions
Date: Apr 13th, 2021
This collection captures the mystical poetry of San Juan de la Cruz (St. John of the Cross), offering profound insights into his deep spiritual experiences and explorations of the soul's union with God.
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War and Peace
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Vintage
Date: Dec 2nd, 2008
Leo Tolstoy's epic novel set against the backdrop of Napoleon's invasion of Russia explores the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the interconnected lives of four aristocratic families, blending a meticulous historical study with deeper philosophical issues.
Tom Jones
Author: Henry Fielding
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Date: Nov 26th, 1991
This picaresque novel follows the life of the foundling Tom Jones as he navigates a series of romantic adventures and misadventures through the English countryside, ultimately seeking redemption and his true identity.
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La Reine Margot
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Apr 15th, 2009
Set against the backdrop of the French Wars of Religion, this historical novel follows Marguerite de Valois, known as Margot, and her tumultuous life involving political intrigue, forbidden love, and family betrayals during one of France's darkest periods.
Madame Bovary
Author: Gustave Flaubert
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: Oct 4th, 2011
This landmark novel portrays the tragic life of Emma Bovary, a doctor's wife whose unfulfilled dreams and aspirations lead her into a downward spiral of adulterous escapades and financial ruin in her pursuit of a more passionate and luxurious life.
Far Away and Long Ago: A History of My Early Life
Author: W H Hudson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Date: Jun 18th, 2018
Hudson's memoir recounts his childhood experiences in the Pampas of Argentina, offering a lyrical, naturalistic account of the flora and fauna that sparked his lifelong passion for nature and influenced his future works as a naturalist and writer.
The Charterhouse of Parma
Author: Stendhal
Publisher: Zinc Read
Date: Jul 7th, 2023
This novel tells the adventures of the young Italian nobleman Fabrizio del Dongo as he navigates the intrigues of the Napoleonic Wars and the Restoration period, seeking love and fortune, and ultimately retreating to the monastery of Parma.
The Blue Hotel
Author: Stephen Crane
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Date: Jan 19th, 2015
In this short story, Crane explores themes of fate, misunderstanding, and the tragic consequences of human frailty when a sequence of tense interactions leads to a fatal altercation at a Nebraska hotel.
La Maison Tellier
Author: Guy De Maupassant
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
Date: Sep 10th, 2010
A collection of short stories, the title story follows the madam of a small-town brothel who takes her employees on an outing to the countryside for a communion, exploring themes of hypocrisy, morality, and the contrasts between rural and urban life.
The Turn of the Screw
Author: Henry James
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Jan 16th, 2020
This ghost story narrates the chilling tale of a governess who, caring for two children at a remote estate, becomes convinced that the grounds are haunted and the children are being corrupted by supernatural forces.
Hail and Farewell: Vale
Author: George Moore
Publisher: Forgotten Books
Date: Aug 24th, 2018
The final volume in Moore's autobiographical trilogy, this book provides a vivid, gossipy account of the Irish literary renaissance and his relationships with key figures of the era, blending personal reflection with cultural criticism.
Kim
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
Date: Dec 5th, 1999
This novel follows the orphaned son of a British soldier growing up in India, who becomes embroiled in "The Great Game," the espionage conflict between Britain and Russia in Central Asia, exploring themes of identity and belonging.
The Red And The Black
Author: Stendhal
Publisher: Independently published
Date: Nov 24th, 2023
This psychological novel follows Julien Sorel's attempts to rise above his humble beginnings through manipulation and deceit in a society riddled with social hypocrisies and class warfare, offering a satirical take on French society during the Restoration.
Ulysses
Author: James Joyce
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Nov 1st, 2000
Joyce's groundbreaking modernist work chronicles the peripatetic appointments and encounters of Leopold Bloom in Dublin in the course of an ordinary day, 16 June 1904, weaving a dense tapestry of themes, techniques, and allusions.
The Greatest Short Stories of Anton Chekhov
Author: Anton Chekhov
Publisher: Fingerprint! Publishing
Date: Oct 10th, 2022
This collection features Chekhov's short stories, showcasing his mastery in capturing complex emotions and human dilemmas through concise, poignant, and often ironic narratives that reveal the breadth of the human condition.
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family
Author: Thomas Mann
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Date: Oct 4th, 1994
This novel chronicles the multigenerational saga of the Buddenbrook family and their declining fortune, exploring the interplay between personal aspirations and societal expectations in 19th-century Germany.
The Oxford Book of English Verse
Author: Christopher Ricks
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: Dec 16th, 1999
This anthology is a comprehensive collection of English poetry, carefully selected by Christopher Ricks, that spans centuries and showcases the rich heritage of English literature from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century.
Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Publisher: Chartwell Books
Date: Nov 23rd, 2021
This passionate and eerie novel explores the deep, destructive love between the tempestuous Catherine Earnshaw and the brooding Heathcliff, set against the bleak and windswept Yorkshire moors.
Selected Poems of Luis de Góngora
Author: Luis de Góngora
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: May 1st, 2007
A selection of works by one of the most significant Spanish Baroque poets, known for his complex, elaborate style and his influence on the Spanish literature of the Golden Age.
Walden
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Publisher: Macmillan Collector's Library
Date: Nov 1st, 2016
Thoreau's reflective account of his two years of simple living in a cabin near Walden Pond focuses on the themes of self-sufficiency, the beauty of nature, and his philosophical musings on life and society.