Written by: Elijah Polance
A few summers ago, I brought a copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea on a vacation to the Adirondacks. Hemingway’s stark depiction of Santiago’s struggle and measured prose enraptured me, and I finished it in one sitting. I’ve been a fan ever since.
While his other novels haven’t resonated with me as strongly, I’ve grown fond of his short stories, of which I’ve read a majority. Here are my five favorites:
- “Indian Camp”
This story follows a young Nick Adams, a recurring character in Hemingway’s short stories, and his father, a doctor. His dad gets summoned to help a Native American woman at a nearby settlement give birth, and Nick tags along.
Regardless of how many times I read the story, it never stops giving me chills. Nick’s father trivializing the woman’s screams and boasting about the operation is off-putting. The realization that her husband committed suicide because of her anguish is haunting. But Nick walks away feeling invincible, letting the tranquil early morning eclipse everything.
- “In Another Country”
Here’s one of Hemingway’s World War I stories, also featuring Nick Adams. Now an adult, he finds himself recuperating from a leg injury in Italy.
Nick’s distant narration and relationship with others injured exposes the disassociation war inflicts on its victims. Hemingway then elevates the story through Nick’s conversations with a wounded major at the hospital, homing in on loss and perseverance.
- “Hills Like White Elephants”
This is one of the quintessential stories for Hemingway’s craft. So much is said in only a brief conversation between a couple at a Spanish train station. Abortion never comes up by name, but you can tell it’s the topic they’re dancing around.
There is something so claustrophobic about this story. The woman’s opinion on the matter gets swallowed up by her partner’s patriarchal power. The story ends with her saying: “There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” It couldn’t be further from the truth.
- “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”
This story begins with two waiters overseeing a suicidal man staying late at a cafe. The young waiter belittles the man for wasting his time. But the older waiter understands the struggle and emphasizes the need for safe spaces.
Despite being published in 1933, the old waiter’s detached view of the world and the nothingness that pervades his life is a remarkable depiction of depression. More than anything, it’s the inability to recognize the culprit, instead attributing it to insomnia, that makes the story so accurate and tragic.
- “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”
It’s an obvious pick, but a deserved one. We see Harry, a young writer, slowly dying on the African plains. With his wife, Helen, beside him, what could be a peaceful passing is anything but.
Harry and Helen’s relationship is both broken and mended before the end, providing constant tension throughout the story. As Harry gets closer to dying, he spends more time reflecting on the past and himself, mourning his diminished identity and missed opportunities. The personification of death with the circling scavengers adds to the many layers that make this story amazing.
Featured Image Caption: Ernest Hemingway writing in Africa, circa 1950
