Not a memoir! Just historical fiction.

Reading this book, together with Hemingway's own account of the same time period (A Moveable Feast), gave me an unexpected respect for his writing and some insights into the man. I don't like his writing any more for respecting it, but I have a feeling for what he was trying to accomplish. And I certainly don't respect the man for knowing more about his personal engagements. But I appreciate the expanded feeling this writer has provided me for the time period and the place in it of Hemingway and his "Paris Wife."

I usually avoid historical fiction because I have a hard time accepting situations and dialogue that are invented for people who actually existed. However, I am glad that I suspended my disbelief to read this because it is excellent. This is a riveting account of how lonely marriage can be when you give up too much of yourself to accommodate your spouse.

Very enjoyable, readable book.Told from the first person, Hadley, Hemmingway's first wife, I enjoyed the style of writing and found that if flowed really well. I knew nothing about Hemmingway's life or his wife and this has made me want to read some of his novels including 'The Sun also rises' written during this period of his life.

Enjoyable read; captured the Parisian life as well as the tumult of Hemingway and Hadley's personalities.

Fictional story of Ernest Hemingway's first wife's life with Hemingway.

I started this book and then couldn't finish it. The story line seems fascinating, but the writing is horrible! It's rather ironic that a book about the great Hemingway would be written so poorly. Disappointing.

The Paris Wife follows the life of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Elizabeth Hadley Richardson. Told from Hadley’s point of view, the author did an enormous amount of research to correctly portray the actions, emotions, and intense life of the Hemingways. Hadley hailed from St. Louis and grew up in a troubled family. She found herself at crossroads when she decides to visit friends in Chicago. It is at this time that she meets Ernest Hemingway and the two quickly fall in love. The novel follows Hadley’s relationship with Ernest all the way to Paris where they live a bohemian lifestyle for many years. With a bevy of emotions on every page, you feel her desire, her despair, her jealousy, and most importantly her love for a troubled but brilliant man. A must read for all lovers of historical fiction. Reviewed by BR

A very interesting read about Hemingway's first wife; provides some insight into his life for those who have read or want to read Hemingway.

This is one of the worst books I have ever read all the way to the end (had to for book club). If you are going to write a book that puts imagined words into the mouths of some of the most interesting people of the 20th century, you'd better have something good for them to say. In attempting to answer the question "what was Hadley doing while Ernest was off galivanting through the continent?", McLain comes up with the answer - "not much.." Also contains some of the most trite pillow talk I've ever listened in on! The only scene that came alive in the book was cribbed almost verbatim from "Living Well is the Best Revenge". I recommend reading that if you're interested in the literary scene in and around Paris during the twenties.