Quick Facts
Old Man and the Sea. For Whom the Bell Tolls. Wrote prose as clean as a rifle shot.
Conversation Starters
Life Journey
Ernest Hemingway was born to Clarence and Grace Hemingway. His father was a physician, and his mother was a musician, both of whom greatly influenced his early life and values.
Hemingway graduates from high school where he excelled in sports and writing. He wrote for and edited the school newspaper, contributing to his early interest in journalism and storytelling.
Hemingway volunteers as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross in World War I. He is stationed in Italy and is seriously wounded, which influences his later works and worldview.
Hemingway moves to Toronto, Canada, and works as a reporter for The Toronto Star. This period hones his skills in writing concise, powerful prose and provides material for his future stories.
Hemingway marries Hadley Richardson in Horton Bay, Michigan. Their relationship is marked by mutual support and travel, which enriches Hemingway's experiences and writing.
Hemingway publishes his first collection of short stories, 'In Our Time,' which introduces his unique style and themes, such as loss, war, and masculinity, to a wider audience.
Hemingway publishes 'A Farewell to Arms,' a novel based on his World War I experiences. The book becomes an instant success and solidifies his reputation as a leading modernist writer.
Hemingway publishes 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' a novel set during the Spanish Civil War. The book is critically acclaimed and further cements his place in American literature.
Hemingway wins the Pulitzer Prize for his novella 'The Old Man and the Sea.' The story of an old fisherman's struggle with a giant marlin is a metaphor for the human condition and perseverance.
Hemingway is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his mastery of the art of narrative, most recently demonstrated in 'The Old Man and the Sea.' The prize recognizes his significant influence on modern literature.
Ernest Hemingway dies by suicide at his home in Ketchum, Idaho. His death is a profound loss to the literary world and leaves a lasting legacy of his contributions to American literature.