Many parts of this place deserve four stars.

It is truly a remarkable destination for those who have a passion for learning about writing.

In my opinion (IMO), you can gain some truly great insights and knowledge about the art of writing here better than in most other places.

The environment is conducive to exploration and growth, with a wealth of resources and opportunities available.

Whether you are a beginner looking to get started or an experienced writer seeking to refine your skills, this place has something to offer.

You can engage in discussions with like-minded individuals, learn from experts in the field, and discover new techniques and approaches that will enhance your writing abilities.

Overall, it is a place that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the world of writing.

I firmly believe that this is the very book that I possess. Even though mine is an ancient edition, most likely one of the original copies. I hold a deep affection for it.

Compared to Hemingway's fictional works, his account of Europe during the wars is exquisitely written. It provides me with a profound sense of what it would have been like to reside and labor in that bygone era.

I have the ability to simply pick up this book and turn to any random page, and immediately become engrossed in the captivating history and the beautifully captured language by Hemingway.

His words have the power to transport me back in time, allowing me to experience the emotions and events of that era as if I were there.

This book is not just a collection of words; it is a window into a different world, a world that Hemingway has brought to life with his remarkable writing skills.

It is a treasure that I will cherish and continue to explore for years to come.

A substantial collection of Ernest Hemingway's journalistic writings that span four decades is presented. It's a bit of a mixed bag, as one might expect from any editorial collection. Many of the selections are dated newspaper articles reporting facts and then-current events. Understandably, Hemingway wasn't striving for literary greatness in these pieces, and as a result, they don't make for interesting reading nowadays. There's an undercurrent of obligation that can be detected in many of these writings, and Hemingway lacks the artistic freedom that comes with crafting literature.

On the other hand, there are several real gems, especially among the longer Esquire articles from the 1930s, where the writer is given more room to breathe. While it's a well-known fact that Hemingway's journalistic output never matched his literary output, some of these Esquire articles come very close. In fact, they serve as a better representation of Hemingway in the 1930s than his only novel published in that decade, To Have and Have Not.

What surprised and pleased me the most about By-Line was the amount of humour Hemingway uses throughout. Perhaps it's because he never intended his journalism to be judged alongside his literature, or maybe it's a reaction to the restrictions of writing to order for newspaper editors. For whatever reason, Hemingway cracks jokes and is generally more light-hearted and communicative with the reader than he often was in his novels and short stories. This gives a greater appreciation of the writer's character, allowing you to flesh out the individual in a way that you can't if you just read, say, The Sun Also Rises or Men Without Women.

The book as a whole can serve as a great introduction to Hemingway's writing, as it covers just about every topic that interested him during his writing career. It includes fishing (On the Blue Water contains a passage that clearly served as the basis for The Old Man and the Sea), bullfighting, war (Notes on the Next War is as eloquent an anti-war message as anything in A Farewell to Arms or For Whom the Bell Tolls), big-game hunting (Notes on Dangerous Game), and literature (Monologue to the Maestro is a gold mine of advice to writers). It also covers events in his life that he never really addressed in his fiction, such as his two plane crashes in Africa (recounted in The Christmas Gift) and his experiences in World War Two. The latter are particularly good, although admittedly not on a par with the Esquire articles. What Hemingway aficionado could resist reading his experiences of a landing-craft on D-Day (Voyage to Victory) or the battles for Paris (How We Came to Paris) and Germany (War in the Siegfried Line)? Overall, there are enough strong articles and enough literary flourishes to make By-Line a worthwhile read and a stellar addition to the Hemingway canon.

One of the most remarkable books I have ever read pertains to Europe before, during, and after World War II. The aspect that makes it truly captivating is the unique experience it offers. Instead of reading historical books penned several decades after the events, it presents actual news articles written during that very time. Hemingway, who didn't have the advantage of hindsight to know how everything concluded, was reporting from various corners of the world almost daily. As a result, you can discover numerous anecdotes that likely didn't make it into the history books later, perhaps because they weren't deemed significant enough from a historical perspective. Interestingly, many of Hemingway's predictions before and during the war came true precisely as he had written, while others were completely off the mark. If you have a passion for history, particularly 20th-century European history, this book is an absolute must-read.

For Hemingway fans, this is an absolute must-read. His articles written prior to and during World War II are astonishingly accurate and astute. They offer a unique perspective on those tumultuous times, painting a vivid picture of the events and the emotions that accompanied them.

In a completely different vein, his pieces on fishing and bullfighting are equally captivating. The way he describes these activities is so moving that it makes the reader feel as if they are right there with Hemingway, experiencing the excitement and the drama firsthand.

It's a pity that there isn't quality reporting like this today. We live in a world where information is abundant, but often lacks the depth and authenticity that Hemingway's writing possessed. His words have the power to transport us to another time and place, and to make us feel something truly profound. Sigh.

This is an outstanding collection of Hemingway's professional newspaper and magazine articles.

Many of them explore various aspects such as culture, geopolitics, and the situation in Europe from the 1920s to the end of World War II. Particular attention is given to the rise of fascism in Italy and Spain, as well as the conflict between Japan and China.

Hemingway presents a unique, ground-level perspective on history. He vividly chronicles the Spanish Civil War and takes a somewhat controversial stance (in hindsight) of isolationism in the late 1930s.

However, for this reader, many of the articles on big game hunting in Africa, war stories of deep sea fishing, and the enthusiastic account of bullfighting in Spain are less engaging.

Although it may be tempting to read the book from start to finish, it can become a laborious and repetitive task. After all, it is an anthology of carefully crafted, stand-alone articles. Many of them are short but pack a punch. Perhaps the best way to approach it is to browse and sample.

Despite the unevenness in interest, the material on Europe during the interwar period is essential reading.

I have an intense and profound love for Hemingway.

Even when he is engaged in the act of killing animals, which, it should be noted with a content warning, actually constitutes a full quarter of the book.

Thankfully, it's not in the first quarter, so at least one can read that part without such a jarring element.

I devoured the entire book compulsively and even with a sense of gratitude.

That's just how much Hemingway's writing has captivated and enthralled me.

His words have a power and a charm that draw me in and keep me hooked from beginning to end.

Despite the controversial aspect of the animal killing, I still find so much to admire and appreciate in his work.

It's a testament to his skill as a writer that he can make me overlook certain elements and focus on the beauty and the essence of his storytelling.

Hemingway is truly a literary giant, and I will continue to love and study his works for years to come.

If you have a penchant for Hemingway, then you are bound to relish this.

He vividly recounts his daily life tribulations and wanderings in a 'Reporter' Style. After all, he was a contributing writer for the 'Toronto Star Weekly'.

The books cover a time span from 1920 all the way through to 1956. He pens his thoughts and experiences from various corners of the world, including France, Spain, Africa, Havana, and more.

His adventures and his unique language are a throwback to another era, long before the advent of Political Correctness.

If the hunting of big game or Bull Fighting offends your sensibilities, then this book might make you think twice.

However, for those who appreciate Hemingway's raw and unfiltered style, it offers a fascinating glimpse into his life and the times he lived in.

This is some of the best journalism that it has been my privilege to read.

He is truly a master at this craft. Now, of course, it offers a fascinating look at history.

If you have any interest whatsoever in the Spanish Civil War, the reports from that conflict are not only useful but also interesting to compare with George Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia."

The details and perspectives provided in these reports can enhance one's understanding of that tumultuous period.

They offer a unique window into the events, the people involved, and the complex political and social dynamics at play.

Whether you are a history buff or simply someone curious about this significant event, these reports are well worth exploring.

They can provide valuable insights and a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices and struggles that took place during the Spanish Civil War.

I'm obviously a fan of Hemingway.

This is a compilation of stuff he wrote early in his career as a young newspaper staffer. During that time, he was honing his writing skills and learning the ropes of the trade. His early works already showed the promise and talent that would later make him a literary icon.

Then there are the articles he wrote later on as an established best-selling author. By this point, he had achieved great success and had a large following. His writing style had matured, and he was able to convey complex emotions and ideas with simplicity and elegance.

This compilation provides a great background on Hemingway's writing career, showing how he developed and evolved over time. It's a must-read for any fan of his work or anyone interested in the history of literature.

I listened to this book 2 years ago and found it rather uninteresting. However, when I gave it another try recently, I saw, or rather heard, something a bit distinct.

Hemingway was indeed a remarkable reporter. He placed himself in Europe during the 1920s, when the fuel of World War II was just starting to be organized. Hemingway was observant and perceptive. He noticed the undercurrents and absorbed the atmosphere, even predicting that the extremists and activists of the 1920s could potentially lead to war.

But after that initial success and acclaim, he seemed to become quite egotistical. This aspect of his personality and the way it was portrayed in the book made it VERY boring for me. It was as if his self-importance overshadowed the other interesting elements that could have been explored further.

Let’s face it. We all know that Ernest Hemingway is a phenomenal writer. However, this book truly proves it.

He began his career as a journalist nearly 100 years ago. The first piece in this collection, dating back to March 1920, is about a free shave by an apprentice barber in Toronto. Journalism paved the way for Hemingway’s literary career, and this book gathers 75 articles written over 35 years.

As you can imagine, it’s a captivating read. It’s not just interesting to see how the world has changed over the years. Hemingway’s gift for words is as evident here as in his novels, and perhaps even more powerful as he writes about true events, most of which happened directly to him or his contacts.

The topics he covers are typical for Hemingway – hunting, fishing, bullfights, women, booze, and so on. He was also the first great writer to gain a reputation for being a heavy drinker. Many have imitated him in both life and writing, but no one has equaled him. In my view, no one ever will. It’s wonderful that his personality is clearly stamped on his journalism, as well as in his other works.

Ultimately, if you’re not a Hemingway fan, you probably won’t want to read this. And even if you are, I wouldn’t blame you for sticking to his novels, at least initially. But, like most great writers, even the less-read and seemingly less appealing work reveals its glorious triumph once you read it. My honest opinion is that you’d be foolish to pass this up just because a book of journalism doesn’t sound particularly interesting. You’ll learn a lot more about the world then and now than you might expect.

Of course, being a classic, it includes commentary, a foreword, and even a rather oddly titled introduction, ‘Hemingway Needs No Introduction’. With most classic novels, having the author’s work interrupted by references can be a chore. Noel Coward once said that “having to read footnotes is like having to go downstairs to answer the door while in the midst of making love.” Here, though, the extra notes enhance what you’re reading in a way that few other books can manage.