A Farewell To Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Set during World War 1, Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms is the story of Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American serving as an ambulance driver in the Italian army, and his love affair with an English nurse named Catherine Barkley. The novel is semi-autobiographical, based on Hemingway's own experiences serving in the Italian campaigns during the war. While some assume the title of the work to be taken from a poem by 16th century English dramatist George Peele, others believe it to be a simple pun of the word “arms.”

A Farewell to Arms was first serialized in the May-October issues Scribner's Magazine 1929. It was published in book form in September of that year. As the work became available to the public just over ten years after the November 1918 armistice, Hemingway assumed his audience would recognize many of the references. In fact, certain basic information isn't alluded to in the book at all, as it was common knowledge around the time of publication.

The result of this immediacy? Arguably one of the best novels written about World War I… ever. A Farewell to Arms was Hemingway's first bestseller, affording him financial independence and cementing his stature as a modern American writer. More specifically, the novel and its content helped to established the author as a key member of the “Lost Generation,” a subset of Modernist artists namely defined by their post-war disillusionment. A Farewell to Arms is ranked 74th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century. 

First edition identification

Scribner’s first published A Farewell to Arms in New York in September 1929 in a print run of about 31,000 copies. The 355-page first editions have no additional printings listed on the copyright page. Of the initial print run, 510 copies were numbered and signed by Hemmingway. These “Lost Generation” gems have sold for upwards of $20,000.

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

 In July 2012, Scribner’s released the Hemingway Library Edition of A Farewell to Arms with a dust jacket facsimile of the first edition. The newly published edition presents an appendix with a number of alternate endings Hemingway wrote for the novel in addition to pieces from early draft manuscripts.

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Available Copies

A Farewell To Arms.

A Farewell To Arms.

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Published
1929
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1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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$850.00

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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First edition of this early Hemingway classic, which established him among the American masters. Octavo, original black cloth with bronze title labels to the spine and front panel. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.
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$850.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Fine
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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$233.95

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Shelton, Connecticut - New York: First Edition Library - Charles Scribner's Sons First edition thus. Facsimile first printing; 1957 latest date at copyright page. Scribner colophon at copyright page with no additional printings stated; no disclaimer verso dedication page. Smooth coated black cloth boards, crisp golden cover and spine labels stamped in black ink, fine. Bind… Read more about this item
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$233.95
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Condition
Used
Edition
First
Published
1929
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1
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PASADENA, California, USA
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A very good first edition in first issue dust jacket. INSCRIBED BY HEMINGWAY in Paris 1929. Hemingway left Paris right after this was signed.
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$24,000.00
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Jacket Condition
Dust Jacket Included
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
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Montreal, Quebec, CAN
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New York: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, 1929. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. New York: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, 1929. Hardcover. Hanneman A8d. Black cloth, [7 1/4" x 5 1/4"] red decorative border on the title page. Embossed Grosset emblem on the upper.....
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$2,750.00
A Farewell to Arms.

A Farewell to Arms.

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Published
1932
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1
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Skibbereen, IRL
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1932. First Modern Library Edition. New York, Random House, 1932. 12 cm x 18 cm. XX, 355 pages. Original illustrated hardcover. Very good condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Only slight discoloration to the covers. Binding firm. From the reference library of Hans Christian Andersen - Translator Erik Haugaard. With his Exlibris to… Read more about this item
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$234.23
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Published
1929
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Middletown, Maryland, USA
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New York: Scribner's Sons, 1929. First edition. First printing with publisher's seal and without the disclaimer. In dust jacket with correct price and "Katherine" for "Catherine" on front flap (as in the first five printings). 8vo black cloth boards with gold-foil labels on front and spine. Very good to near fine with covers showing only light shelf wear and… Read more about this item
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$2,500.00
A Farewell to Arms  [First Printing in First Issue Wrapper]

A Farewell to Arms [First Printing in First Issue Wrapper]

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Rapid River, Michigan, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First printing in rare first issue wrapper. Scribner colophon at copyright page with no additional printings stated; no disclaimer verso dedication page. Smooth, coated, black cloth boards, gold cover and spine labels stamped in black ink, light shelf wear. Labels remain bright and crisp. Bind fine, moderate cant; hinges intact.… Read more about this item
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$2,800.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
None
Edition
UK first second state rebound in half leather
Published
1929
Binding
Half leather
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1
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Tucson, Arizona, USA
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First UK edition, Second State, Near Fine book with light foxing and offsetting to end pages, touch of foxing to edges page block, and mild toning to pages. Hemingway's third novel that was based on his experiences as an ambulance driver in WWI and subsequent recovery, after being wounded by artillery fire. This copy has been beautifully bound in half… Read more about this item
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$450.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1930
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Woodstock, Illinois, USA
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$1,350.00

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London: Jonathan Cape, 1930. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. First Issue with "serriosu" on page 66. Very Good in a Very Good jacket, unclipped (7s. 6d. net), lightly toned and rubbed, a few small closed tears and bumps at the edges. Magenta cloth, a few dark spots on the front panel and bumped at the corners, gilt… Read more about this item
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$1,350.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
New
Published
1994
ISBN 10
0099910101
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1
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Fresno, California, USA
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In 1918 Ernest Hemingway went to war, to the 'war to end all wars'. He volunteered for ambulance service in Italy, was wounded and twice decorated. Out of his experiences came his early masterpiece, A Farewell to Arms.
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$20.00
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Very good+ in like jacket.
Edition
First edition
Published
1929
Quantity Available
1
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Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First edition. Very good+ in like jacket.. First printing of Hemingway's tragedy of ill-fated love amidst the fighting of World War I. Based in part on Hemingway's own experiences as an ambulance driver on the Italian front, this novel is a disillusioned indictment of war. Heavily influenced by the modernist approach to… Read more about this item
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$4,500.00
A Farewell To Arms

A Farewell To Arms

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - Good
Jacket Condition
Fair
Edition
Book Club
Published
1957
Binding
Tight
Quantity Available
1
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Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
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New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1957. Scribner's Modern Standard Authors Edition of this Hemingway classic which was first published in 1929. Introduction by Robert Penn Warren with suggested readings. Hardcover with 343 pages in good condition. DJ has small nicks and rips & some tears.(see pictures) Pages are Complete and Clear / Binding is Good… Read more about this item
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$30.00
A FAREWELL TO ARMS [SIGNED]

A FAREWELL TO ARMS [SIGNED]

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used
Edition
Limited Edition, #102/510
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. Limited Edition, #102/510. Hardcover. Octavo, 355 pages; VG; bound in publisher's half vellum over green cloth boards, black gilt morocco lettering label on spine; housed in original slipcase, two pieces of old tape repair to top edge, some mild rubbing and toning to slipcase; light rubbing to spine and… Read more about this item
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$8,000.00
A Farewell To Arms

A Farewell To Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Edition
1st Edition 1st Printing
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
London, GBR
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$692.97

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Description:
0 First edition/First printing (2nd issue) published by Jonathan Cape, London 1929. VG+ clean and tight condition. No marks or inscriptions. Mild browning to endpages. Occasional spotting. Very clean and bright cloth covers. Dustjacket not price clipped. General minor wear and creasing to edges with very small loss. Few marks and slightly grubby to rear. Protected in archive cover.… Read more about this item
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$692.97
A Farewell To Arms

A Farewell To Arms

by Ernest Hemingway

Condition
Used - Good +
Jacket Condition
Good-
Edition
Modern Standard Authors
Published
1957
Binding
Semi tight a little loose
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1
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Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
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$55.00

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New York, : Scribner's, 1957. Hardcover. Fine/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Later printing, in the Modern Standard Authors series (jacket flap unpriced). Introduction by Robert Penn Warren. Attractive hardcover, green linen covers with black spine. Bright dust jacket some wear on top of spine with small tears on bottom right corner. A… Read more about this item
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$55.00
A Farewell to Arms (Original screenplay for the 1957 film)

A Farewell to Arms (Original screenplay for the 1957 film)

by Ernest Hemingway (novel); Charles Vidor, John Huston (director); Ben Hecht (screenwriter); Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones, Vittorio De Sica, Oskar Homolka (starring)

Condition
Used
Published
1957
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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$650.00

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Los Angeles: Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957. Draft script for the 1957 film. In Selznick Studio wrappers, with the insignia on the front wrapper. An original production script, with a perforated distribution leaf preceding the title page. The second film version of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 novel, and also the last film produced by David O. Selznick. Frederick Henry (Hudson)… Read more about this item
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$650.00
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by HEMINGWAY, Ernest

Condition
A beautiful, Fine copy of this desirable book in an attractive new slipcase
Edition
First Edition
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, USA
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$18,750.00

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Description:
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First Edition. Hardcover. A beautiful, Fine copy of this desirable book in an attractive new slipcase. Original vellum spine and green boards with vellum tips. Copy #48 of 510 SIGNED by the author, Hemingway's only signed and limited edition. An absolutely gorgeous copy, the boards and the vellum both sparkling fresh with… Read more about this item
Item Price
$18,750.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Jacket Condition
Very Good+
Edition
First Edition
Published
1929
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Portland, Oregon, USA
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$5,000.00

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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First Edition. Very Good+/Very Good+. First edition, first printing, first issue lacking the disclaimer on page x. Bound in publisher's original black cloth with bronze title label printed in black to spine and upper board. Very Good+ with light lean to binding. Covers lightly worn, spine and pages toned, former owner name… Read more about this item
Item Price
$5,000.00
A FAREWELL TO ARMS

A FAREWELL TO ARMS

by Hemingway, Ernest

Condition
Used - Very Good
Jacket Condition
No Dust Jacket
Edition
First Edition
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
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Item Price
$650.00

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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. (xii), 355 pages. Bound in the original black cloth with the original gold paper title patches on spine and front cover. First issue of the first edition without the legal disclaimer that was added to the verso of the dedication page in the second issue [That later disclaimer read: "None of… Read more about this item
Item Price
$650.00
A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms

by HEMINGWAY, Ernest

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
First Edition
Published
1929
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Springtown, Pennsylvania, USA
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$4,450.00

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NY: Scribners, 1929. Bound in black cloth with gold labels. The labels are bright (virtually as new). The first edition of the book without the disclaimer, and the true first state dust jacket with price of $2.50 on front flap with "Katherine" on the front flap of the jacket and two reviews on the back panel. . The… Read more about this item
Item Price
$4,450.00