Critiques of Ernest Hemingways Novel, Death in the Afternoon Essay

Critiques of Ernest Hemingways Novel, stopping point in the Afternoon Ernest Hemingways Death in the Afternoon shows a new side of Hemingways writing which initially disappointed the critics. Published in 1932, Death in the Afternoon was non the expected fictional novel, but instead was more of a nonfiction description of bullfighting and Spanish culture in the 1920s and 1930s. In Curtis Pattersons words, It is a tripartite work bullfighting in Spain, add-on semi-autobiographical details of the author, plus smut. The smut is lugged in by the ears, is unnecessary, is not amusing. The semi-autobiographical details make me faintly sick at my stomach. The explanation of, guide book to, apology for bull-fighting is absorbingly interesting.1 This books focus on bullfighting is a complete transformation from Hemingways front novel A Farewell to Arms, which focuses on the war. Many critics see through with(predicate) this switch in subject calculate, however, and propose tha t Hemingways focus on bullfighting is really just a different way for him to express his emotions towards the war. accord to Malcolm Cowley, Hemingway had found in bullfighting an emotional substitute for the war. It provided everything, travel, excitement, crowds like armies ceremonial the spectacle of danger.2 The violent descriptions of the close and injuries of the bulls, horses, and bullfighters are expressions of his pent up feelings towards death and the war. When this book was first published, it sold poorly, in part because of the depression, and also because of the contradictory topic of bullfighting, which was unfamiliar to his readers. Although his writing style was still praised and respected, his subject matter was widely criticized, as H.L. Mencken... ...has interesting biographical facts and many pictures of Hemingway on his travels. www.lostgeneration.com/keywest.htmThis website has small comments by Hemingway and reviewers about Death in the Afternoon, a nd his trips to Spain. 1 Stephens, Robert O., ed. Ernest Hemingway The Critical Reception. unsanded York Burt Franklin & Co., Inc., 1997 p 1182 Ryan, Frank L., The Immediate Critical Reception of Ernest Hemingway. Washington, D.C. University of the States Press, 1980 p. 193 Stephens, p. 1234 Meyers, Jeffrey, ed. Hemingway The Critical Heritage. London Routledge &Kegan Paul Ltd., 1982 p.1735 Stephens, p. 1216 www.lostgeneration.com/keywest.htm7 Meyers, p. 228 Stephens, p. 1159 Stephens, p. 119 10 Stephens, p.10911 Stephens, p. 10812 Stephens, p. 11113 Stephens, p. 13114 Meyers, p. 2215 Meyers, p.24 16 Stephens, p. 112