The Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden is a novel by American author Ernest Hemingway, who is regarded as one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Hemingway had worked on the novel for 15 years at the time of his death in 1961. It was published posthumously in 1986. Though controversial, the novel has been heralded as an important example of Hemingway’s work and was adapted into a film of the same name in 2008. This guide uses an eBook version of the 2003 Scribner edition.

Plot Summary

David and Catherine Bourne are a recently married couple. David is an American writer, and Catherine is the daughter of a wealthy British family. David and Catherine visit the south of France on their honeymoon. The places they visit are typically free of tourists as this is the off-season.

The novel begins several weeks into the honeymoon. David and Catherine spend their days drinking alcohol, swimming nude in a private cove near their hotel, and driving to nearby towns and cities. One day, Catherine leaves the hotel telling David that she will return with a surprise. She returns with her hair cut short.