Across the River and Into the Trees

By: Ernest Hemingway

Narrated by: Boyd Gaines

Now a major motion picture starring Liev Schreiber and Josh Hutcherson!

A poignant post-WWII tale of a revitalizing love found too late that follows the fleeting connection between an Italian countess and an injured, aging American colonel in Italy—a love story that inspires light and hope, while only darkness lies ahead.

In the fall of 1948, Ernest Hemingway made his first extended visit to Italy in thirty years. His reacquaintance with Venice, a city he loved, provided the inspiration for Across the River and into the Trees, the story of Richard Cantwell, a war-ravaged American colonel stationed in Italy at the close of the Second World War, and his love for a young Italian countess.

A bittersweet homage to love that overpowers reason, to the resilience of the human spirit, and to the world-weary beauty and majesty of Venice, Across the River and into the Trees stands as Hemingway’s melanchoic yet resolute statement of defiance in response to the great dehumanizing atrocities of the Second World War.

A good book.

The book is 40% the rambling thoughts of a war veteran, and 50% banter between him and his young girlfriend. With that alone, Hemingway is able to make the reader understand.
I wasn't sure I liked it until it was over. I didn't think there was much to it until I looked back and saw how much I had learned about a person.

Typical Hemingway and enjoyable

I enjoyed this book, and thought the narrator did an excellent job in reading this. Very similar ingredients compared to Hemingway’s other books in terms of the protagonist and a love affair and a war. Definitely a smaller scope than Hemingway’s other books but still enjoyable. I love the way Hemingway shares the stream of consciousness of his protagonist, and this book is no different.

across the river and into the trees

I have enjoyed all of Hemmingway" books to date,(I have read several),but I'm beginning to worry that I can relate to all of his primary characters; and that does not feel all that "great". I would hope that I can cultivate a more encouraging outlook/perspective to my second 50 years.

Good performance - weak story - dialog wanting

Very disappointing. Interesting focalization, novel conversation with a portrait, nice duck hunting but unconvincing relationship, tiresome bravado and creepy reference to his love interest as "daughter". Same as in the strange country. Equally creepy. Ending reference to Stonewall Jackson quote contrived.

Sad Story

I watched the movie twice and loved it although it was possibly the saddest movie I have seen. The novel was more confusing and the plot was much looser than the movie. A rare case where I liked the movie better than the novel.