"He lay flat on the brown, pine-needled floor of the forest, his chin on his folded arms, and high overhead the wind blew in the tops of the pine trees. The mountainside sloped gently where he lay; but below it was steep and he could see the dark of the oiled road winding through the pass." (Published 1940)
I love the classics and plan to share some "opening lines" over the coming months. Comment if you like, or read for inspiration. Writing styles were different then, but were they really?
Hi Sharon - the phrase' for whom the bell tolls' rang true yesterday ... when we moved Richard III's skeleton from his University research home back into the Christian Church via the battle field where he was killed ... the procession and process for Richard's burial is amazing - 529 years later ...
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to say I haven't read the book?! Cheers Hilary
I read an old copy my mother had as a young teen, and then saw the movie. It was so good.
DeleteHow Hemingway could set a scene!
ReplyDeleteAnd you just know that the oiled road winding through the pass is about to reveal something too. Have always admired Hemingway's settings.
DeleteOh what a great opening-I, alas, have not read this book....yet
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting story of civil war in Spain, as I recall.
ReplyDeleteI love the classics, too, but I'll admit I've not read this one.
ReplyDeleteYou might give it a try if you like war stories.
DeleteHemingway could always capture my attention! Love it! Have most of his books! What a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read all, but most I think :)
ReplyDeleteI'm hooked by your theme. Love that lilting prose. Yum.
ReplyDeleteGreat opening lines! And I'm addicted to opening lines...you find yourself reading other people's before coming up with the first line for your own novels when you write!
ReplyDelete