The Sun Also Rises

The novel follows the character of Jake Barnes a World War I veteran and journalist as he travels to Paris and then to Spain with a group of friends including the charismatic but troubled Brett Ashley. Along the way the characters drink dance and engage in a series of doomed romantic relationships all against the backdrop of the bullfighting culture in Spain. One of the key themes of the book is the characters search for meaning and purpose in a world that has been shattered by war. Hemingways spare and direct prose style is on full display in the novel with a focus on action and dialogue rather than lengthy descriptions or interior monologues.