For Whom the Bell Tolls

Interesting Facts

• The book is based on the author's personal experiences as a war correspondent during the Spanish Civil War.
• The title is taken from a sermon by English poet John Donne, which states that the death of any person diminishes humanity, as we are all part of a whole.
• The protagonist, Robert Jordan, is an American volunteer fighting for the Republicans.
• The novel explores themes of love, death, betrayal, and heroism against the backdrop of war.
• The book was banned in Spain until the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.
• Hemingway employed the 'iceberg theory,' where much of the meaning is hidden beneath the surface of the text.
• The novel was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize but did not receive it due to political reasons.