Three Stories and Ten Poems

Summary

Three Stories and Ten Poems is Ernest Hemingway’s first published book, a rare glimpse into the early work of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Printed in 1923 in a small edition in Paris, this collection showcases the raw power of Hemingway’s emerging style—spare, direct, and deeply evocative.

The three stories—“Up in Michigan,” “Out of Season,” and “My Old Man”—explore themes of longing, disillusionment, and the quiet struggles of ordinary people. From the harsh realities of love and violence to the fleeting bonds between father and son, Hemingway’s prose is both stark and deeply moving.

Complementing the stories are ten poems that reveal a different side of the writer—lyrical, reflective, and unafraid to confront themes of war, love, and the passage of time. These early works, though lesser known, foreshadow the brilliance that would define The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and beyond.

A must-read for Hemingway enthusiasts and literary historians alike, Three Stories and Ten Poems offers a rare look at the formative years of a literary legend.