According to the book's jacket, 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is Hemingway's finest novel.  I disagree.  While the book does a fine job of describing the life of a partisan, its 490 pages only cover a few days' time.  So, don't expect a lot of fast-moving action.  This novel is basically a character study of the different persons in American volunteer Robert Jordan's hosting partisan band.  Therefore, if you enjoy character studies then you will indeed enjoy this book.

The plot is that Jordan is sent to blow up a bridge in the Spanish hinterland.  He is to contact a local partisan band and secure their assistance in helping him destroy the bridge.  Once he arrives at the band's secret refuge internal power struggles immediately begin as Jordan's mission will endanger the survival of all the band's members.  In addition, there is the inevitable romantic subplot between Jordan and the mysterious Maria.

Utilizing the flashback as a vehicle, Hemingway defines each actor's traumatic personal history, his/her decisions, and his character.  Jordan the idealistic young American university professor becomes the daring, charismatic, and ideologically indifferent demolitions expert.  Pablo the angry peasant becomes the murderous, avaricious guerilla leader.  Pilar the ugly yet happy wife of a diminutive bullfighter is widowed and becomes the overbearing, honorable wife of Pablo.  Maria the fragile, innocent virgin becomes the emotionally-scarred, vulnerable lover of Jordan.  Anselmo the venerable old peasant becomes the determined, brave guerilla fighter.  And so it goes with many of the other book's characters.

The book is a good character study and portrait of life as a Spanish partisan, but I found it to be much too slow moving for my taste.  This is decent novel, but it's not really a war novel.  In my opinion, Farewell to Arms is a much better war novel and is Hemingways's best book.
According to the book's jacket, 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is Hemingway's finest novel. I disagree. While the book does a fine job of describing the life of a partisan, its 490 pages only cover a few days' time. So, don't expect a lot of fast-moving action. This novel is basically a character study of the different persons in American volunteer Robert Jordan's hosting partisan band. Therefore, if you enjoy character studies then you will indeed enjoy this book. The plot is that Jordan is sent to blow up a bridge in the Spanish hinterland. He is to contact a local partisan band and secure their assistance in helping him destroy the bridge. Once he arrives at the band's secret refuge internal power struggles immediately begin as Jordan's mission will endanger the survival of all the band's members. In addition, there is the inevitable romantic subplot between Jordan and the mysterious Maria. Utilizing the flashback as a vehicle, Hemingway defines each actor's traumatic personal history, his/her decisions, and his character. Jordan the idealistic young American university professor becomes the daring, charismatic, and ideologically indifferent demolitions expert. Pablo the angry peasant becomes the murderous, avaricious guerilla leader. Pilar the ugly yet happy wife of a diminutive bullfighter is widowed and becomes the overbearing, honorable wife of Pablo. Maria the fragile, innocent virgin becomes the emotionally-scarred, vulnerable lover of Jordan. Anselmo the venerable old peasant becomes the determined, brave guerilla fighter. And so it goes with many of the other book's characters. The book is a good character study and portrait of life as a Spanish partisan, but I found it to be much too slow moving for my taste. This is decent novel, but it's not really a war novel. In my opinion, Farewell to Arms is a much better war novel and is Hemingways's best book.