logo

48 pages 1 hour read

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1940

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Ernest Hemingway

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1940
Book Details
Pages

471

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Spain • 1930s

Publication Year

1940

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

840L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

For Whom the Bell Tolls follows Robert Jordan, an American volunteer demolition specialist for the Republican army during the Spanish Civil War, tasked with blowing up a bridge to aid an offensive. As he works with a band of guerrilla fighters, he falls in love with Maria, experiences deeply connected wartime relationships, and faces various conflicts with the group's leader, Pablo. The book includes depictions of wartime violence and references to sexual violence.

Dark

Mysterious

Melancholic

Suspenseful

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.2

311,172 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls is lauded for its powerful depiction of war and human endurance. Critics celebrate its rich, evocative prose and complex characters, making it a compelling read. However, some find its pacing slow and dialogue stilted. Overall, it remains a poignant exploration of sacrifice and heroism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read For Whom the Bell Tolls?

A reader who enjoys literary fiction with profound themes, complex characters, and historical settings would appreciate For Whom the Bell Tolls. It appeals to those intrigued by war narratives and philosophical musings akin to A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway or All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque.

4.2

311,172 ratings

73%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

471

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Spain • 1930s

Publication Year

1940

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

840L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.