Ernest Hemingway's novel "A Farewell to Arms" is considered one of the greatest works of

American literature. The book is about a USA citizen who voluntarily joins the Italian army
as a paramedic in times of first World War. His name is Henry Frederic, but everyone calls
him Tenente (lieutenant). The book is divided into five parts.
In the first part, the author describes the scenery of Gorizia and a while from soldiers' life who
stationed there with whom was also Henry. They gather in the officer’s canteen where they
talk about leave destinations for Tenente and friendly make fun of priest. After leaving Henry
comes back to his old room where he meets his friend Rinaldi. Rinaldi tells him that there are
two new beautiful girls Miss Barkley in which he is in love and Miss Ferguson. The next day
they go to meet them. During Miss Barkley’s and Henry’s talk, she said that she had a lover,
but he died. After that, he comes to her every day. During attack when he’s eating with
drivers of his ambulances he gets hurt with a grenade. Then they take him to the field hospital
where he gets visited by Rinaldi and the Priest.
The second part is about Henry’s hospital stay in Milan where he was operated by Dr.
Valentini, his rehabilitation and how Catherine Barkley became his “informal” wife because
making it “formal” would be a hard fight with bureaucracy. Those were happy days for both
of them. She was taking night shifts even when she was tired just to have the possibility to be
with Henry. They were spending every single moment together when they only could. One
day they went to horse racing with friends, but they didn’t win much, because of the scam. In
September Catherine told him that they will have a child. He was happy about that and they
talked about where they will go after the war. Meantime he got jaundice. After the
convalescence leave, he had to come back to the front, but before he bought a used gun. They
spent the last evening at the hotel and then he left by train.
In the third part, Henry comes back to the war camp. He talks there with his friend Rinaldi
and the Priest, about God, about lacks food and other things. Everywhere nearby are
destroyed buildings. Then Henry was ordered to evacuate wounded soldiers. He asks what to
do with those who cannot be taken, because of a lack of space. “Leave them” they answered.
They stayed in an old mansion for a night. The next day they were driving through the city,
but there was congestion on the road. Henry agreed to take two sappers from the road, They
also took two frightened girls and fed them. He was thinking about Catherine. When they
were driving further they got stuck. Henry ordered two officers to go for branches to help
move the car, but they kept refusing. Then he shoots to them and took one. Bonello finished
him. They couldn’t move cars, so they walked on foot. They came to a barn and then when
Henry wasn’t looking Bonello went to the captive. Then they walked with a group of soldiers
and encountered a military spot where the militia was shooting officers who left their
regiments. Henry escaped by swimming in the river. Then he got onto the train.
The next part is about Henry leaving the army and looking for Helene. From the train, he got
to Milan. He visited his friend Simmons who helped him with cloths. Then Henry went to
Stresa to look for Catherine and he found her and Miss Ferguson in the hotel there. Miss
Barkley was very happy to see him, Miss Ferguson not, because of the child and at the very
moment when she saw him she knew that he is in trouble. Henry stayed with Catherine in the
hotel. He played billiard with Count Greffi talking about books and love. In the night came
barman Emilio to tell him that in the morning he will be arrested. With his help, they run by
bout. They arrived in the town for breakfast. After breakfast, they got arrested and
interrogated. They were sent to Locarno were they got interrogated the second time. They got
temporary visas there and went to the recommended hotel.
The last part of the book is about their living in a house, waiting for Catherine to give birth
and her sad death. They were living on a mountain slope near a lake in a house with Mr. and
Mrs. Guttingen. Henry wanted to get married, but Catherine said it will be embarrassing in
her state. They were enjoying slowly living. Henry was thinking about his old friends.
Catherine wanted to move to the city and they moved to Lozanna to be closer to the hospital.
She prepared their layette for the child. One night Catherine felt pain, so they went to the
hospital. Childbirth was very hard and long. Catherine got the caesarean section, but the child
born dead. Henry was staying with her, then he left to eat. At that time Catherine had
hemorrhage and died. When he heard that he left the hospital.