The Torrents of Spring: The Authorized Edition

Hemingway was competitive, in everything. In his first novel (not the Sun Also Rises) he lampoons a literary style that was all the rage in his day. It's as if Hemingway were both taking an artistic stance and purging himself so he could get down to what would be the real business of writing The Sun Also Rises.

The Torrents of Spring is important because of who wrote it. It is supposed to be a parody of Sherwood Anderson's work. I don't get it. The book reads like Hemingway's high school work (he wrote it in his 20s). Both are important because they reveal something about the development of a giant. There is some interesting byplay in the book between protagonist and others, some good place descriptions. It was not fun or absorbing to read but it has importance for one who studies Hemingway's body of work. It is contemporary with In Our Time. The literary gulf between the two books is vast.

I thought I'd read everything Hemingway ever published, but I was not even familiar with this one. When I read that it was a parody, I thought I might not get it, since it had been a long time since I'd read any of the authors he was targeting. Instead I found myself laughing out loud. So much reminded me of best-sellers I had read in recent years(The Bridges of Madison County is one which comes to mind). It just goes to show, great writing can come in many styles, but bad writing remains amazingly consistant over the years.

I have wanted to meet Hemingway for some time now, but that being impossible for obvious reasons this book is the next best thing. Not only is this book outstanding but with all Hemingway's notes to the reader it's almost like he's right there with you telling the story. Every time I read Hemingway I feel the current story is better than the last, that rule holding true with this one as well. My advice to you, read it. It's less than a hundred pages anyway, so if you don't agree with me on how absolutely great this novel is you will not have wasted all that much of your time.But at least read it for the notes and to see the struggling Hemingway trying to get you to advertise his book for him. It's quite amusing.

As incredible as it may sound, this is Hemingway's best work. Here is Hemingway at his earliest, before the world knew him--when his genius was inspired. The style is so fresh, you would believe it had been written recently, not over 60 years ago. Truly hilarious. Truly amazing.