In Our Time (short story collection) facts for kids
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In Our Time is a famous collection of short stories written by Ernest Hemingway. It was his very first collection of stories! The book was published in 1925 by a company called Boni & Liveright in New York. Before this, a smaller version with a similar name, in our time, came out in France in 1924. The title of the book comes from an old English prayer, "Give peace in our time, O Lord."
How the Book Was Made
The journey of In Our Time becoming a book was a bit complicated. It started with six short prose pieces, like tiny stories or descriptions, called vignettes. These were published in 1923 by a writer named Ezra Pound in a magazine called The Little Review.
Hemingway then added twelve more of these vignettes. He published this longer collection in Paris in 1924. This early version was called in our time (with a lowercase title).
For the 1925 edition, Hemingway wrote fourteen new short stories. Some of his most famous stories are in this collection. These include "Indian Camp" and "Big Two-Hearted River". Both of these stories feature a character named Nick Adams. Later, for the 1930 edition, he added another story called "On the Quai at Smyrna".
What Are the Stories About?
The stories and vignettes in In Our Time explore different feelings and experiences. They often talk about feeling alone, sad, or separated from others. The vignettes describe things like war, bullfighting, and other real-life events.
Hemingway's writing style in this book is very special. He uses simple, clear language. He doesn't always directly tell you how characters are feeling. Instead, he lets you figure it out from their actions and what they say. This style is sometimes called his "iceberg theory." It means that like an iceberg, most of the story's meaning is hidden beneath the surface.
Why This Book Is Important
Many people noticed Hemingway's unique writing style right away. A famous literary critic named Edmund Wilson said Hemingway's writing was "of the first distinction," meaning it was excellent. The 1925 edition of In Our Time is seen as one of Hemingway's first great works. It helped show the world his amazing talent as a writer.
