The Sun Also Rises

In Short

Jake Barnes, an American journalist living in Paris, navigates a nomadic existence of late-night drinking and surface-level banter alongside a restless circle of expatriates. Central to his life is Lady Brett Ashley, a fiercely independent yet emotionally adrift woman whom Jake loves deeply, though a tragic wartime injury prevents them from ever being together truly. Seeking an escape from their aimless routine, the group journeys to Spain for a week of trout fishing in the mountains and the high-energy spectacle of the Pamplona bull-fighting festival. There, romantic jealousies escalate among Brett's suitors, leading to public clashes and shattered friendships. As the violent thrills of the fiesta fade, the characters scatter back across Europe, leaving Jake to confront the quiet, lingering emptiness of his life. The novel endures as a portrait of a generation searching for meaning in a world stripped of its values.

The Story

Jake Barnes lives a quiet yet socially entangled life as an American news correspondent in Paris during the 1920s. Though he maintains a professional routine, his evenings are spent moving through smoky cafés and bars with a circle of weary expatriates. Jake carries a severe injury sustained during the First World War, an affliction that renders him physically incapable of romantic intimacy. This condition casts a long shadow over his relationship with Lady Brett Ashley, a charismatic, twice-divorced Englishwoman with whom he shares an intense emotional bond. Brett loves Jake, but her inability to settle into a chaste partnership drives her to seek comfort in a series of fleeting affairs and engagements. Among those drawn into her orbit is Robert Cohn, a former Ivy League boxing champion and writer who clings to romantic ideals and grows obsessively devoted to Brett after a brief trip away together.

Seeking a change of scenery, Jake and his genial friend Bill Gorton arrange a journey to Spain. Their plan is to fish for trout in the quiet streams near Burguete before heading to Pamplona for the annual fiesta of San Fermin. Cohn insists on joining them, driven by a desperate desire to remain near Brett. Tensions begin to build before the festival even starts, as Cohn’s quiet superiority and stubborn devotion annoy the others. When Brett arrives in Pamplona accompanied by her fiancé, Mike Campbell—a heavy-drinking, bankrupt Scotsman who openly resents Cohn—the atmosphere grows increasingly charged with unexpressed hostility.

When the fiesta begins, the quiet Spanish town transforms into a chaotic landscape of continuous music, dancing, and daily bull-fights. The group immerses itself in the festivities, spending long days drinking at outdoor cafés and watching the running of the bulls. However, the cheerful façade quickly deteriorates into bitter arguments. Mike relentlessly taunts Cohn for hanging around where he is not wanted, while Cohn quietly endures the insults, refusing to leave Brett’s side. Jake tries to keep the peace and maintain his standing as a serious aficionado of the bull-ring, respected by the local hotelier Montoya for his genuine appreciation of the art.

The dynamic shifts dramatically with the introduction of Pedro Romero, a remarkably talented nineteen-year-old matador whose pure, traditional style captivated the crowd and the inner circle alike. Striking and composed, Romero represents an authenticity that the older expatriates lack. Fascinated by the young bull-fighter, Brett asks Jake to facilitate an introduction. Despite knowing that helping Brett pursue Romero will alienate Montoya and disrupt the traditional integrity of the bull-fighter’s circle, Jake agrees to bring them together at a café table.

Brett and Romero quickly initiate a passionate affair, inciting an explosive reaction from Cohn. Feeling betrayed, Cohn confronts Jake, calling him a pimp and knocking him unconscious in a physical fight. Cohn then tracks down Romero in Brett's hotel room and brutally beats the young matador, though Romero refuses to give up and repeatedly stands back up to fight. Defeated by the realization that he cannot force Brett to love him and that he has destroyed his standing with the group, Cohn leaves Pamplona in shame the following morning.

Despite his severe bruises, Romero performs heroically in the bull-ring later that afternoon, delivering a masterful display that wins over the entire crowd. Immediately after the bull-fight, Brett leaves Pamplona with Romero, while the rest of the group breaks up. Mike heads off to recover, Bill boards a train back to Paris, and Jake travels alone to the quiet seaside town of San Sebastian to unwind and process the turbulent week.

Jake's peaceful retreat is brief. Shortly after arriving, he receives a telegram from Brett asking for help; she is stranded in Madrid, having sent Romero away to avoid ruining his promising career. Jake travels to Madrid to assist her, finding her alone in a hotel room. They share a meal and drink together at a local restaurant, where Brett reflects on her decision to end things with Romero. As they ride through the hot, bright streets of Madrid in a taxi, Brett rests comfortably against Jake, lamenting that they could have had a wonderful life together. Jake responds with a quiet, ironic acceptance of their reality, recognizing the distance between their ideals and the lives they actually live.

How It Unfolds

• Life in the Paris cafés — Jake Barnes moves through the social rhythms of post-war Paris, balancing his work as a journalist with evenings spent in smoky bars. He navigates complex social dynamics alongside his friend Robert Cohn, who faces his own artistic and romantic frustrations.
• The return of Brett Ashley — Lady Brett Ashley arrives on the scene, immediately shifting the group's dynamic with her captivating presence and free-spirited lifestyle. Her deep emotional connection with Jake is clear, yet his wartime injury prevents them from forming a traditional romantic relationship.
• Planning the Spanish escape — Seeking a respite from the Paris routine, Jake and his friend Bill Gorton plan a journey south to Spain for a trout-fishing trip in the mountains. Robert Cohn, along with Brett and her fiancé Mike Campbell, make plans to meet them in Pamplona.
• Fishing in the Pyrenees — Jake and Bill spend a few quiet days fishing in the cold streams near Burguete, enjoying simple meals, cold wine, and easy camaraderie. This tranquil interlude offers a brief stark contrast to the emotional tensions waiting for them in town.
• The start of the fiesta — The group reunites in Pamplona as the festival of San Fermin begins, filling the town with nonstop music, dancing, and drinking. Tensions quickly rise as Mike Campbell repeatedly insults Robert Cohn over his lingering devotion to Brett.
• Enter Pedro Romero — Jake introduces the group to Pedro Romero, a brilliant nineteen-year-old matador whose skill and classic technique command deep respect in the ring. Brett is immediately drawn to the young fighter and asks Jake to arrange a private introduction.
• A violent rupture — After Jake facilitates the meeting between Brett and Romero, Robert Cohn reacts with rage, knocking Jake unconscious and physically attacking Romero in a hotel room. Realizing he has completely alienated the group, Cohn quietly departs the festival.
• The final bull-fight and departure — Despite his injuries, Romero delivers an incredible performance in the ring before leaving Pamplona with Brett. The fiesta ends, the group scatters, and Jake travels to San Sebastian for a few days of quiet recovery by the sea.
• A final ride in Madrid — Jake receives a desperate telegram from Brett and travels to Madrid to help her after she sends Romero away. Riding together in a taxi through the city, they reflect on what might have been, closing on a note of quiet, resigned acceptance.

The People

• Jake Barnes — An American journalist living in Paris who serves as the calm, observant anchor of his friend group. He wants a quiet, meaningful life and longs for a true relationship with Brett Ashley, but his severe wartime injury stands in the way of physical intimacy. He ends up emotionally drained, left with a clear-eyed, ironic acceptance of his solitary reality.
• Lady Brett Ashley — A striking, twice-divorced Englishwoman who moves through life with an air of independence and charm. She wants emotional connection and fulfillment, but her inner restlessness and fear of settled life lead her into impulsive, destructive affairs. She ends up alone in Madrid after sending her young lover away, forced to confront the limits of her freedom.
• Robert Cohn — A former Princeton boxer and writer who feels like an outsider among his peers. He wants romance, respect, and a traditional sense of chivalry, but his possessive nature and inability to read social cues alienate those around him. He ends up disgraced and isolated, leaving Pamplona in shame after resorting to physical violence.
• Mike Campbell — Brett’s Scottish fiancé, a heavy-drinking, bankrupt veteran who uses humor and boisterous behavior to mask his financial insecurities. He wants to keep Brett's affection and maintain the party atmosphere, but his bitter jealousy toward her other suitors drives him to cruel outbursts. He ends up broke and alone as the group dissolves.
• Pedro Romero — A gifted nineteen-year-old Spanish matador who embodies traditional courage and grace. He wants to excel in the bull-ring and hold onto his sense of honor, but his sudden romance with Brett threatens his focus and standing. He ends up battered yet triumphant in the ring, retaining his dignity after Brett sends him away.

In Its Own Voice

”You are all a lost generation.”

This remark, attributed to Gertrude Stein in conversation, opens the book as an epigraph and sets the thematic tone for a group of people floating without direction after the war.

“I get more value for my money in old brandy than in any other antiquities.”

Count Mippipopolous speaks these words during a night out in Paris, explaining his straightforward philosophy of finding joy in life's immediate physical pleasures.

“Two ways. Gradually and then suddenly.”

Mike Campbell offers this blunt explanation at a café table when asked by Bill Gorton how he managed to go bankrupt.

“Yes,” I said. “Isn’t it pretty to think so?”

Jake Barnes delivers this famous final line to Brett Ashley while riding in a taxi through Madrid, acknowledging the gap between their romantic dreams and harsh reality.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book examines the profound disorientation felt by those who survived the First World War. Rather than focusing on the battlefield itself, the narrative explores the lingering aftermath—the quiet, everyday reality of individuals whose values, beliefs, and bodies were irrevocably altered. The main characters move constantly from bar to bar, city to city, using alcohol, travel, and surface entertainment to numb an underlying sense of loss and purposelessness.

The story also probes the difficulty of genuine human connection in a world where old rules no longer apply. Jake and Brett share a genuine bond, yet it is perpetually hindered by Jake's physical wound and Brett's emotional restlessness. Their circle is filled with people seeking affection, yet almost every romantic effort devolves into jealousy, financial bartering, or superficial indulgence. The contrast between traditional values and modern disillusionment is highlighted by the contrast between the core group and figures like the young matador Pedro Romero, who operates within an ancient code of grace, discipline, and honor. Ultimately, the book asks how one can live a meaningful life when the traditional foundations of meaning have been dismantled.

Why Read It Today

This novel remains a landmark work of modern fiction because of its direct, unvarnished style and its sharp observation of human behavior. Readers who appreciate spare prose, vivid European settings, and subtle character dynamics will find it immensely rewarding. Hemingway’s famous stripped-down sentences create a narrative that feels remarkably fresh, allowing the reader to infer the deep emotions running beneath the understated dialogue.

However, modern readers should be prepared for some of the period's attitudes and language. The characters frequently display casual prejudice, particularly directed at Robert Cohn, and the heavy drinking and aimless lifestyle can feel relentless at times. Additionally, the detailed descriptions of traditional Spanish bull-fighting require an open mind toward a practice that is both graphic and controversial. Despite these challenging aspects, the novel offers an unforgettable, authentic portrait of longing, resilience, and the search for identity that still speaks clearly to anyone who has ever felt adrift.