Across the River and Into the Trees

By: Ernest Hemingway

Narrated by: Boyd Gaines

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in Venice at the close of World War II, Across the River and into the Trees is the bittersweet story of a middle-aged American colonel, scarred by war and in failing health, who finds love with a young Italian countess at the very moment when his life is becoming a physical hardship to him.

It is a love so overpowering and spontaneous that it revitalizes the man's spirit and encourages him to dream of a future, even though he knows that there can be no hope for long. Spanning a matter of hours, Across the River and into the Trees is tender and moving, yet tragic in the inexorable shadow of what must come.

©1950 Ernest Hemingway, 1978 Mary Hemingway. All rights reserved (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Good performance - weak story - dialog wanting

Very disappointing. Interesting focalization, novel conversation with a portrait, nice duck hunting but unconvincing relationship, tiresome bravado and creepy reference to his love interest as "daughter". Same as in the strange country. Equally creepy. Ending reference to Stonewall Jackson quote contrived.

across the river and into the trees

I have enjoyed all of Hemmingway" books to date,(I have read several),but I'm beginning to worry that I can relate to all of his primary characters; and that does not feel all that "great". I would hope that I can cultivate a more encouraging outlook/perspective to my second 50 years.

A good book.

The book is 40% the rambling thoughts of a war veteran, and 50% banter between him and his young girlfriend. With that alone, Hemingway is able to make the reader understand.
I wasn't sure I liked it until it was over. I didn't think there was much to it until I looked back and saw how much I had learned about a person.

Typical Hemingway and enjoyable

I enjoyed this book, and thought the narrator did an excellent job in reading this. Very similar ingredients compared to Hemingway’s other books in terms of the protagonist and a love affair and a war. Definitely a smaller scope than Hemingway’s other books but still enjoyable. I love the way Hemingway shares the stream of consciousness of his protagonist, and this book is no different.

narrator lifts the novel

What about Boyd Gaines’s performance did you like?

Boyd Gaines gives an exquisite reading of one of Hemingway's more modest novels. In fact, it is read so well that in the audio version, the book exceeds its written impact. Boyd understands this novel so well, he gives me a newer insight into an old novel once only read.

This is the magic of audiobooks.

quite boring

not one of ernests bette r works.. i got hal fway and fell asleep.... deleated..

A Bit of a let down.

I really couldnt follow this story. It seemed like Hemingway was not sure of himself when writing this one. For Whom the Bell Tolls was a work that left you wanting more but it was all I could do to drag my way through this one. To be fair I am not a great writer but I just didnt feel anything when listening to this verses For Whom the Bell Tolls where I felt the fear, anger, rage, passion, ect. All in all though it wasnt a waste of time.

Extremely listenable

One of the things that I am most grateful to Audible for is introducing me to Hemingway. Like everything else of his this is sparsely written but magnificent and evocative. The economy of construction lends well to narration and the narrator is clear and interesing to listen to.

Hemingway’s overindulgent

I’m a big Hemingway Aficionado but this is not his better work. Too much of the dialog sounds like he’s only putting his own words into the mouths of his characters.

Better than expected

Contemporary critics did not care for Hemingway's "Across the River and Into the Trees." I enjoy Hemingway quite a bit and finally made my way to this novel. I found it to be a very touching story. The brief descriptions of leadership in war are both informative and heartbreaking. Highly recommended.