A Farewell to Arms

By: Ernest Hemingway

Narrated by: John Slattery

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

The best American novel to emerge from World War I, A Farewell to Arms is the unforgettable story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and his passion for a beautiful English nurse.

Hemingway's frank portrayal of the love between Lieutenant Henry and Catherine Barkley, caught in the inexorable sweep of war, glows with an intensity unrivaled in modern literature, while his description of the German attack on Caporetto, of lines of fired men marching in the rain, hungry, weary, and demoralized, is one of the greatest moments in literary history.

A story of love and pain, of loyalty and desertion, A Farewell to Arms, written when he was 30 years old, represents a new romanticism for Hemingway.

©1929 Charles Scribner's Sons. Copyright renewed 1957 Ernest Hemingway (P)2006 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

It's a good book, not amazing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the reader was good, the story absorbing

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Farewell to Arms?

I'm writing this review several months after I listened to it - nothing particularly stands out.

What about John Slattery’s performance did you like?

Evocative performance

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried at certain points

Amazing performance

Would you listen to A Farewell to Arms again? Why?

Yes, I have listened to it about 4 times now.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think my favorite character was probably Catherine Barkley. She just seems like the perfect woman to me.

What does John Slattery bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

John Slattery is a tour de force in this. He does so many accents and they are all spot on. I was impressed with his scottish accent for Catherine's friend and his very "American" accent for one of the nurses. It seemed like he did at least 8 or 9 accents though I lost count. His reading of a female voice was really honest. He didn't add any flourishes that weren't necessary to the characters.

Yes, this is an amazing book, but hearing it read well is just a dream. I bookmarked dozens of parts and listen to them from time to time when I'm in my car.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending is quite hard to listen to because of the drama. But there are so many cute parts between Mr. Henry and Ms. Barkley. When she's "cleaning him out" before his surgery, I love their discussion.

Any additional comments?

One thing about the Android App. If you delete the book to make room for other books, and then redownload it, the bookmarks you created are deleted. Horrible!

But this book is amazing and the reading by John Slattery is so good. This is a MUST READ if you've never listened to an audio book. I wish I could find more books that Mr. Slattery has read.

Did not enjoy the reading as much as the story

Great story with a Hemingway finish but did not enjoy the reading as it came across a bit flat.

Amazing Writings

Great writer and amazing narrator. Story is simple, but so close to true, when listening it feels that you are inside.

Funny

Another great book by Hemingway. One of the funnier from him. Always entertaining, always engrossing.

Great narrator and awesome story.

The narrator actually sucked me into this book. His accents and imitations of the characters in the story brought the book to life. Great job audible.

Just wonderful!

I was unaware of this book. I am very happy I chose to hear this 1. The narrator did a fantastic job! Definitely worth it

So Sad…

I am a Hemingway newbie, having read this title and only one other, and am starting to think that his demise by his own hand was predictable. If you like sad stories rooted in futility, he’s your guy! Perhaps that comment isn’t quite fair, me being a newbie and all, but I feel like having a good cry right now…

The narrator wrought a wonderful performance! His command of accents and accompanying intonations brought life to the characters of the story.

Best Audiobooks “Performance”

John Slattery ruined all audio books for me forever. His stunning performance brought a timeless classic to life.

I’ve read A Farewell to Arms a dozen times before and downloading it was boarding on sacrilegious.

It was the opposite of “the book is better than the movie”. If you ever wanted to go the other way and hear a book that was better than the book, hear John Slattery read it in this edition.

5 stars all around. Except Audible app was jacked and kept rewinding it 30 minutes every time I restarted it.

Masterful

He takes you there. Slattery also great could not be done more perfectly. Upset that I finished.