The Hemingway Short Story

A Study in Craft for Writers and Readers

By: Robert Paul Lamb

Narrated by: Kirk Hanley

In his highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Art Matters: Hemingway, Craft, and the Creation of the Modern Short Story, Robert Paul Lamb delivers a dazzling analysis of the craft of this influential writer. Lamb scrutinizes a selection of Hemingway's exemplary stories to illuminate the author's methods of construction and to show how craft criticism complements and enhances cultural literary studies.

The Hemingway Short Story reconciles the creative writer's focus on art with the concerns of cultural critics, establishing the value that craft criticism holds for all readers.

Beautifully written in clear and engaging prose, Lamb's study presents close readings of representative Hemingway stories such as ''Soldier's Home,'' ''A Canary for One,'' ''God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen,'' and ''Big Two-Hearted River.'' Lamb's examination of ''Indian Camp,'' for instance, explores not only its biographical contexts - showing how details, incidents, and characters developed in the writer's mind and notebook as he transmuted life into art--but also its original, deleted opening and the final text of the story, uncovering otherwise unseen aspects of technique and new terrains of meaning. Lamb proves that a writer is not merely a site upon which cultural forces contend, but a professional in his or her craft who makes countless conscious decisions in creating a literary text.

Revealing how the short story operates as a distinct literary genre, Lamb provides the detailed readings that the form demands - showing Hemingway practicing his craft, offering new inclusive interpretations of much debated stories, reevaluating critically neglected stories, analyzing how craft is inextricably entwined with a story's cultural representations, and demonstrating the many ways in which careful examinations of stories reward us.

©2013 Louisiana State University Press (P)2013 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

“Just as Ernest Hemingway is among the great masters of the short story in the English language, Robert Paul Lamb is among Hemingway's most astute critics. Lamb's insightful readings delight and instruct, and will be cited for years to come.” (Susan F. Beegel, editor of The Hemingway Review)

“Reading The Hemingway Short Story is like attending a master class on literary craft; an expert scholar-critic reveals the subtle methods and moves that produce the distinctive, memorable effects that comprise Hemingway's literary signature.” (J. Gerald Kennedy, author of Imagining Paris)

Educational

Insights to Hemingways short stories that is not be apparent to the average reader-a short course on the subject.

Thoughtful and Detailed

This is a thoughtful and detailed examination of some of Hemingway's finest short stories. It offers scene-by-scene and, in some cases, paragraph-by-paragraph and even sentence-by-sentence breakdowns, discussing the author's use of perspective and other writing techniques. It also includes observations on the stories from many authors and scholars. Not for the casual listener, but it is a real eye-opener for serious students and writers.

Start with Art Matters

I first listened to this and found it rather tedious only because I was new to the topic and the stories analyzed. Then I picked up a copy of Art Matters along with Hemingway's complete short stories. I read Art Matters then studied it alongside the stories. Now I'm re-reading this book. Huge difference the second time through with better foundation.

Analysis, minus the craft

Ironically, the writer uses the sort of overstuffed language Hemingway tried to avoid. The author's ego gets in the way repeatedly, and he seems to be more interested in analyzing Hemingway the man than Hemingway's stories. Not at all helpful for writers hoping to learn the craft.