Literature in American Education

Abstract

In the autumn of 1940 Ernest Hemingway published his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. The book had been eagerly awaited. We knew well in advance that the setting of the story was the civil war in Spain, that event so rich in meaning for the recent history of the world. We knew also that Mr. Hemingway was writing, perhaps more than ever before, out of passionate concern over the apathy of mankind towards a growing menace to all western civilization. Few, however, had any clue to the enigmatic title. Then came publication day.