Ernest Hemingway's life in his novels
             "Write about what you know." A famous quote by little known author Rob Stevens holds true now and has held true in earlier times as well. When trying to write a novel, the author cannot simply create work from nothing; intense work, deep levels of feeling, and a sense of familiarity are also needed. An inspiration, a muse if you will, is needed. Several writers have used their own lives and experiences as a muse. Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms was inspired by Hemingway's life by situations he was in, emotions he felt, and people he actually knew.
             In A Farewell to Arms, Federic Henry is wounded as an ambulance driver on the "joke front" in Italy during WWI. There, while hospitalized, he meets the love of his life, Catherine Barkley. The two escape Italy with the help of a friendly Italian officer, and get married. Catherine bears Federic's child through a cesarean section, and dies in childbirth at the end of the novel.
             This novel is composed of events in Hemingway's life. Hemingway was an ambulance driver in Italy during the first World War. As Federic was, Hemingway was too young for the war, but felt he had to be involved somehow. The danger, the excitement seemed to draw him in. Both men, fictional and not, took shrapnel to the leg during a routine stop. For both Federic and Hemingway, life was poor. They had no
             money, and no real relationship was forming, but upon return from war, both found themselves wealthy and in love.
             Hemingway's character Federic's love life followed a path similar to his own.. Both Federic and Hemingway began adolescence and early adult life being rather reticent; Hemingway, in fact, so much so that he took his own sister to his high school prom. "He was rather shy, in the fact that he did not seem to find anyone to be with, unlike most young men his age, and did not seem to even attempt to woo the young ladies,"(Burnes). These men both experienced...