For Whom the Bell Tolls

By: Ernest Hemingway

Narrated by: Campbell Scott

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1937, Ernest Hemingway traveled to Spain to cover the civil war there for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Three years later he completed the greatest novel to emerge from "the good fight", For Whom the Bell Tolls.

The story of Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades attached to an antifascist guerilla unit in the mountains of Spain, it tells of loyalty and courage, love and defeat, and the tragic death of an ideal. In his portrayal of Jordan's love for the beautiful Maria and his superb account of El Sordo's last stand, in his brilliant travesty of La Pasionaria and his unwillingness to believe in blind faith, Hemingway surpasses his achievement in The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms to create a work at once rare and beautiful, strong and brutal, compassionate, moving, and wise.

"If the function of a writer is to reveal reality," Maxwell Perkins wrote Hemingway after reading the manuscript, "no one ever so completely performed it." Greater in power, broader in scope, and more intensely emotional than any of the author's previous works, it stands as one of the best war novels of all time.

©1952 Ernest Hemingway (P)2006 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is the best book Ernest Hemingway has written, the fullest, the deepest, the truest. It will, I think, be one of the major novels in American literature." (The New York Times Book Review)

Magnificent

The inter twine of a group of looking to fight for their freedom with a stranger. Whom has his orders when and where to ease into the fight but jump in with his band of rebels whose trials and tribulations. Gave them strength to fight beside him..

Great Narration

Campbell Scott does an excellent job narrating — the best I’ve heard on any audible book. Really enjoyed this classic.

Hemingway remains timeless

If you could sum up For Whom the Bell Tolls in three words, what would they be?

Plot and character development done with spice and heart; bringing reality in to the home via sound.

What did you like best about this story?

The portrayal of human emotions and how complex relationships can be for people who are in situations, which require thinking, not just action.

Which character – as performed by Campbell Scott – was your favorite?

All were good; no favorite

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

I felt the ending was lacking in some way but "they" don't all end with the white-hats getting the girls and living happily everafter.

Any additional comments?

Glad I read it and my feelings about the idiocy of war are more solid than ever.

Classic. Great as an audiobook.

Slow build, and quite long, but these types of books are great as audio books. To get through that much flowery writing would be hard for me if I had to read it, but I've got nothing but time when listening. Beautiful writing.

Memorable Story, Decent Performance

I almost cried at the end of this novel. Sparingly written prose with incisive examinations of what it means to live a well lived life and die a good death. I will not be wearing a bit for Pablo shirt after reading this piece of art.

Great book on leadership, triumph and sacrifice

I loved this book and will revisit it soon. Narration was excellent. The story line e was inspiring and motivational.

Thee Will Love Thy Story

Would you listen to For Whom the Bell Tolls again? Why?

Yes, it is very compelling, addressing many human problems.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked so many-- Robert Jordan, the protagonist, of course, and Maria, Pillar, Anselmo, and Fernando.

What about Campbell Scott’s performance did you like?

The best I have yet heard via Audible. When he spoke in Pablo's voice, it was as though Pablo was sitting in the room, or more acccurately, I was sitting in their hideout cave. Amazing narration.

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

So many moving moments in the book. The narration shifted to many characters throughout the book-- Pillar's recollections were vivid and powerful. Maria's dialogue was so honestly rendered as to bring tears to my eyes whenever she spoke. The dialogue between Maria and Robert Jordan as they imagined how their later stay in Madrid would be was perhaps my favorite scene in the book.

Any additional comments?

How could I have missed this book all my life? I thought I must've read it in the past, but I had not. This is just about the most unusual war story you will ever hear. It has completely changed my previous opinion of Hemmingway. This is a masterpiece. The odd translation of Spanish to formal "thee" and "thou" is amazing in it's cadence and concise rhythm. And reading/hearing this story, knowing Hemmingway's fate is just painful. Somehow, the exposed mind of Hemmingway is offered to the reader and it is so bittersweet. What a novel!

Great book

Its my first war book. What is great about this book is in simple human way by looking into the mind of protagonist...and without taking sides...it brings out the futility of war even when fought in the name justice where no side can really claim to be on right side. The writing style of hemmungway has always impressed me with short sentences and descriptive detailing.

Good story. very interesting story line. fun to

Good story. very interesting story line. fun to listen tp. Hemingway is an artist. The characters were very interesting.

A very very personal and inspiring book

Loved the story, the narrative and the performance.

I've never read Hemingway,but now I feel like he's one of my favorites.

What a powerful story

Amazing.