Across The River and Into the Trees

6b Ernest Hemingway. London: Jonathan Cape, 1950. First UK Edition.

Notes

Across the River and Into the Trees, published in 1950, is a novel by Ernest Hemingway set in post–World War II Venice. The story centers on Colonel Richard Cantwell, an aging American officer reflecting on his life, wartime experiences, and approaching mortality during a final trip to the Italian city he loves. Much of the narrative unfolds through Cantwell’s conversations with the young Renata, whose presence offers him a sense of comfort and companionship. Through quiet reflection and understated dialogue, Hemingway explores themes of aging, memory, honor, and the emotional aftermath of war, set against the evocative landscape of Venice and the surrounding lagoons.

Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961) was one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century, known for his spare prose style and stories of resilience, courage, and personal struggle. His experiences as a war correspondent, traveler, and outdoorsman shaped much of his fiction, which includes works such as The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and The Old Man and the Sea. While Across the River and Into the Trees initially received mixed reviews, it has since been reconsidered for its introspective tone and autobiographical elements drawn from Hemingway’s own time in Italy. The first UK printing, published in London by Jonathan Cape in 1950, appeared the same year as the American edition and represents the novel’s earliest appearance for British readers during the later period of Hemingway’s distinguished career.

Description

Green canvas binding. Yes label with silver lettering to spine and red figure to upper board. Original dust wrapper with title to spine and back cover and author name to front cover. Some minor sun fading to spine of book and dust wrapper. Fine condition.