The Sun Also Rises

The Sun Also Rises cover
Good Books rating 3.42
Technical
  • ID: 4195
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9780593321287
  • Publisher: Everyman's Library
  • Published: 2022-03-22
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is a landmark novel that captures the essence of the Lost Generation in the 1920s. It follows world-weary journalist Jake Barnes and his circle of expatriates as they navigate the nightclubs of Paris and the bullfighting arenas of Spain. Jake's unrequited love for the extravagant Lady Brett Ashley adds a layer of complexity to their relationships, leading to a devastating climax during the festival of the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Hemingway's signature terse and powerful prose style is on full display in this modernist masterpiece. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a post-war world, making it a timeless exploration of human emotions and the illusions we chase.

Reviews
Medium · 2025-10-21
intriguing 3.75

The novel's bleak outlook is compelling due to its unflinching honesty. It explores the complexities of the human condition and the search for meaning.

The reviewer on Medium finds 'The Sun Also Rises' to have a bleak outlook that is both unsettling and compelling. The novel's unflinching honesty forces readers to confront the complexities of the human condition. The search for meaning among the Lost Generation is a central theme, and the reviewer appreciates how Hemingway portrays the characters' struggles and disillusionment. The novel's emotional depth and nuanced characterisation make it a powerful read, despite its somber tone. The reviewer's perspective highlights the novel's ability to evoke deep emotional responses and provoke introspection.


Quick quotes

    While the novel's bleak outlook may be unsettling, it is this very unflinching honesty that compels us to confront the complexities of the human condition.

    The novel introduces two of Hemingway's most unforgettable characters, Jake and Brett, whose struggles and disillusionment are vividly portrayed.

    The Sun Also Rises captures the essence of the Lost Generation's search for meaning in a post-World War I world.

The Guardian · Robert McCrum · 2014-09-22
brilliant 4.00

The novel is praised for its exploration of courage and authenticity, set against the backdrop of 1920s Spain. It is considered Hemingway's first and best work, capturing the essence of the Lost Generation.

The Guardian's Robert McCrum highlights how 'The Sun Also Rises' delves into themes of courage, cowardice, and manly authenticity, making it a standout piece of literature. Set in the vibrant and chaotic 1920s, the novel captures the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation. McCrum appreciates Hemingway's ability to portray the complexities of human emotions and relationships, making it a compelling read. The novel's setting in Spain adds a layer of cultural richness, enhancing the overall narrative. McCrum's review underscores the novel's enduring relevance and its status as a classic.


Quick quotes

    Hemingway's first and best novel makes an escape to 1920s Spain to explore courage, cowardice and manly authenticity.

    It is a novel of weighty emotionality and nuanced, intelligent characterisation.

    The Sun Also Rises captures the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation.

Fiction Fan Blog · 2014-08-01
mixed 2.50

The reviewer found the writing banal but appreciated the book more in retrospect. The novel's exploration of unrequited love and alcohol addiction is noted.

The reviewer from Fiction Fan Blog admits to finding much of the writing in 'The Sun Also Rises' mind-numbingly banal, yet they appreciate the novel more in retrospect. The themes of unrequited love and alcohol addiction are particularly noteworthy, adding depth to the narrative. The reviewer acknowledges the novel's literary value and the emotional complexity it portrays, despite initial reservations about the prose. This duality in the reviewer's experience highlights the novel's ability to provoke thought and reflection long after reading.


Quick quotes

    I did like the book though, as I said in my review, more in retrospect than while reading.

    I found much of the writing mind-numbingly banal, but the themes resonated with me.

    The novel's exploration of unrequited love and alcohol addiction is particularly compelling.