Plot Summary

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Ernest Hemingway
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The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1936

Book Brief

Ernest Hemingway

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1936
Book Details
Pages

27

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Mount Kilimanjaro • 1930s

Publication Year

1936

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

820L

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Super Short Summary

In Ernest Hemingway's short story collection, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, themes of life, death, and human connection are explored through various stories. In the title story, a dying man on an African safari confronts his past; "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" examines solitude through a conversation between two waiters and an old man; "A Day’s Wait" depicts a young boy’s misinterpreted fear of death; "The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio" focuses on the interplay of physical and emotional pain; "Fathers and Sons" and "In Another Country" delve into intergenerational relationships and wartime recovery; "The Killers" presents a young man’s brush with the criminal underworld; "The Way You’ll Never Be" deals with trauma from war; "Fifty Grand" reveals the inner conflict of a boxer in a fixed match; and "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" follows a safari adventure that tests courage and reveals deeper marital tensions. Contains discussions of death and trauma.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.1

46,067 ratings

65%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Critics note that The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway is a powerful exploration of regret and existential angst, praised for its vivid prose and deep psychological insight. However, some readers find its bleak tone and abrupt ending off-putting. Overall, it remains a compelling work showcasing Hemingway’s storytelling mastery.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Snows of Kilimanjaro?

A reader who relishes introspective, character-driven stories with rich, evocative prose, and themes of existential reflection and personal regret would enjoy The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway. Fans of A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway or The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald may find this work particularly compelling.

4.1

46,067 ratings

65%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

27

Format

Short Story • Fiction

Setting

Mount Kilimanjaro • 1930s

Publication Year

1936

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

820L

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