For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

The Spanish Civil War. It's not really well-known or studied around here. I suspect that there are probably a few reasons for that:

• With names like the "Republicans" and "Nationalists", it's hard to remember who were the good guys and who were the bad guys.
• With one side backed by Stalin and the other by Hitler and Mussolini, was there even a "good" side and a "bad" side?
• As this was a prequel to a main event of World War II, it is overshadowed in most memories and our history books.

Anyway, Bell tells the story of the fictitious American Robert Jordan, who's a Spanish instructor from the University of Montana and in Spain fighting with the Republican (Communist-backed) side. Jordan is a demolition expert, and he is given the task of meeting up with a guerrilla band in a Nationalist- (Fascist-) controlled area and blowing up a bridge.

Much of the story involves the interaction of Jordan with members of the band in preparation for the coordinated assault on the bridge. Pablo, the band's leader, is a troublesome character. He seems to have lost his will to fight, and Jordan and the reader can't tell whether or not he can be trusted. And, when Pablo finally commits an act from which there can be no forgiveness, suddenly, all is right in their relationship, at least for a while.

Then, there's Jordan's love interest, Maria, who may exist more to make the story more suitable for Hollywood. (I'm looking forward to seeing Ingrid Bergman in the role.)

The narrative point of view seemed interesting and somewhat unconventional. It was third person, mostly focusing on Jordan's thoughts and actions, including long "conversations with himself" that make it more of a first-person account. But, it also had a few parts away from Jordan and from the point of view of other characters. These made the book seem inconsistent.

The book does a good job of showing the uncertainties of war. However, I thought it was too long. The asides were too numerous and also too long. I would have preferred if Hemingway had stuck to the story.

It's considered a classic, and I can see how literary types would really enjoy it. Others in my book club also didn't care for it, though I'm not that negative. It has good parts and bad. I suppose I'm neutral about it, though I may try another of the author's classics.

No man is an island, entire of itself
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls
it tolls for thee.

-- John Donne