FALLING IN LOVE
In 1920s Chicago during the time of Prohibition, Hadley is introduced to the Ernest we haven’t yet heard of: the bright-eyed, enthusiastic, vibrant lover who yearns to be a renowned and famous writer. They instantly fall in love, and after a short and wild affair, they marry and set off for France, arriving in Paris, the city that buzzes with artists, writers and poets alike.
THE DOWNHILL SLIDE
In the haze of alcohol, jazz and hearsay, things begin to go downhill for the married couple, and the arrival of a son only takes them further apart just as Ernest’s literary career sets sail. Yet, Hadley – and Ernest too, in his own way – tries to rekindle the flame that burned so bright not so long ago but her efforts prove to be worthless with the arrival of a new character.
A COMPELLING READ
The Paris Wife is a heartbreaking, beautiful story about Hemingway’s first wife, but most importantly, about the reality of life.
This novel was like a wake-up call to me; it showed me that life isn’t a fairytale, and that there are no knights in shining armor coming to the rescue. It is cruel, yet full of love; a true and beautiful romance, told by the Paris wife herself, that gives us not only insight into the Ernest Hemingway, but also a direct link to the heart of a woman in love. This novel left me drained with sadness and frustration, but also renewed with wisdom. Nothing is ever as it seems, and nothing is ever simple.
