Synopsis: This is the true-to-life story of the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his wife, Hadley Richardson. Hadley, an unfashionable 29-year-old woman who'd all but given up on love, and Ernest, a handsome 21-year-old author, fall quickly for each other, marry, and move to Paris. In Paris, they become involved with the so-called "Lost Generation" including Gertrude Stein, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Soon the young couple is swept up in the fast-moving lifestyle of the Jazz Age, while Ernest struggles to write what will become The Sun Also Rises. Despite their deep connection, Hadley and Ernest find their love put to the ultimate test.
Review: While I typically love a good historical fiction read, this book lacked substance and heart. I found Hadley to be a bore and a bit naive. Ernest, on the other hand, is a very believable character, despite being a bit deplorable. It was interesting to read about the couple's time in Paris and to see their famous friends come to life. The downside here is that there are so many characters that I found them difficult to keep straight. McLain doesn't flesh out each character, assuming perhaps we know a bit about them from history, and it was often confusing. As Hadley and Ernest's relationship begins to break down, Hadley wonders what went wrong, but she seems hesitant to act, which may just have been a sign on the times where women were prizes, not partners.
Spoilers: Oh, Hadley, Hadley, Hadley. How could you let your husband's mistress slip into bed with you and act as if nothing is happening? Since Ernest Hemingway had four wives, I think it's fair to say that his wandering eye had nothing to do with his wife, but I still got tired of Hadley while reading this book. This was a sad, sad story.
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