Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
TL;DR: Jake Barnes, an American journalist in Paris wounded in the war, loves the free-spirited Lady Brett Ashley but cannot be with her. With a group of restless expatriate friends, they travel to Pamplona for the running of the bulls, where jealousy, drinking and Brett's affair with a young bullfighter come to a head.
Table of Contents
The Sun Also Rises at a Glance
| Author | Ernest Hemingway |
| First published | 1926 |
| Type | Novel |
| Best for | readers who want a short, stylish classic about the Lost Generation |
The Sun Also Rises is Ernest Hemingway's first novel, published in 1926. Based on a real trip to Pamplona in 1925, it captures the aimless, hard-drinking generation that came of age during the First World War. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes heavy drinking and antisemitic remarks by characters.
Main Characters
- Jake Barnes: The narrator, an American journalist with a war injury.
- Lady Brett Ashley: A glamorous, independent Englishwoman Jake loves.
- Robert Cohn: A writer and former boxer who becomes obsessed with Brett.
- Mike Campbell: Brett's bankrupt Scottish fiancé.
- Pedro Romero: A brilliant young bullfighter.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
Paris
Jake Barnes works as a journalist in Paris. A war wound has left him unable to have sex, so he cannot be with Brett, whom he loves. They drift through cafes and bars with friends. Robert Cohn, a writer, has a brief affair with Brett and becomes obsessed with her.
Fishing in Spain
Jake and his friend Bill Gorton travel to Spain to fish in the mountain streams near Burguete. These peaceful days in nature contrast with the restless life in Paris. Jake and Bill enjoy simple pleasures and friendship.
Pamplona
The group, including Brett, her fiancé Mike and Cohn, gather in Pamplona for the San Fermín festival. Tension builds as Mike taunts Cohn and everyone drinks heavily. Jake, a passionate fan of bullfighting, introduces Brett to the young bullfighter Pedro Romero.
The fiesta explodes
Brett begins an affair with Romero, with Jake's help. In jealous rage, Cohn, a boxer, punches Jake and Mike and beats Romero badly. Romero still performs brilliantly in the bullring the next day. Cohn leaves in shame, and Brett runs off with Romero.
The ending
After the fiesta, Jake goes to San Sebastián to rest. Brett sends a telegram from Madrid; she has left Romero because she did not want to ruin him. Jake comes to get her. In a taxi, she says they could have had a good time together. Jake replies, “Isn't it pretty to think so?”
5 Key Takeaways
- War left a generation restless and unable to find meaning.
- Love can be impossible even when it is real.
- Drinking and pleasure cannot fill an inner emptiness.
- Nature and simple pleasures offer brief peace.
- Hemingway's style says much by leaving things unsaid.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Some longings can't be fulfilled, only lived with.
- Running from pain doesn't end it.
- Grace under pressure is its own kind of courage.
Who Should Read The Sun Also Rises?
Read The Sun Also Rises if you want a short, sharp classic about friendship, love and travel in the 1920s. It suits older teens and adults.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The Sun Also Rises:
- Why can't Jake and Brett be together?
- What does bullfighting represent for Jake?
- How does Hemingway show emotion without stating it?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The Sun Also Rises is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The Sun Also Rises, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
If the summary caught your interest, read the opening chapters before you decide. A summary tells you what happens, but the voice and pacing are what make a book work or not.
Check price of The Sun Also Rises on Amazon
What to Read Next
- A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway: Hemingway's memoir of 1920s Paris
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: another classic of the 1920s
- Everybody Behaves Badly by Lesley M.M. Blume: the true story behind the novel
Related: 15 Books Like The Sun Also Rises You’ll Love · A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sun Also Rises about?
Expatriates travel from Paris to Pamplona, where love and jealousy tear them apart.
What is the Lost Generation?
Writers and young people who came of age during WWI.
Is it based on real people?
Yes. The characters were based on Hemingway's friends.
What is Jake's injury?
A war wound that leaves him impotent.
Who is Pedro Romero?
A young bullfighter Brett falls for.
How does it end?
Jake and Brett ride in a taxi, accepting they cannot be together.
When was it published?
In 1926.
How long is it?
About 250 pages.
Is there a film?
Yes. A 1957 film starred Tyrone Power and Ava Gardner.
Is The Sun Also Rises worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a short, stylish classic about the Lost Generation. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.