James L. Roberts (1929–2006)

This particular Cliffs Notes selection did little to help me understand or appreciate Hemingway's short stories. It mainly summarizes their content, and by the time I finished it, I had no more understanding of why these stories were considered to be significant works of quality. The one exception was "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber," (a story I have long admired), as I now better understand the motives of the protagonist's wife. Regarding another Hemingway story that I admire, I show more am skeptical of author James Roberts' assertions regarding its symbolism. Other stories covered in this work are mainly of the Nick Adams series, and include "The Killers", "Indian Camp", and "The Three Day Blow". Including summaries and commentaries, this work includes an list of characters, a superficial essay on Hemingway's style, and oddly, maps of the stories' settings. show less

I find this a valuable guide to have around as I grade essays on by students. These days, the internet is a more useful tool for searching for plagiarism but good old cliffs notes are still useful. As for the book's real use, it is a good means of interpreting and studing the novel. I always find these notes helpful for checking and verifying my own understanding as for a guick summary. They should never be used as a substitute for the actual book.

Sure is better than reading the original. William Faulkner is a glorified drunk and I for one will be happy when his tripe is tossed out of the canon.

Standard study guide to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.