Ernest Hemingway’s “In Our Time” is a landmark collection not just for the author’s career, but for American literature. Published in 1924 in Paris by Three Mountains Press, it was the first collection of Hemingway’s short stories and established the minimalist, evocative style that would become his signature.
A Look Back: The Birth of “In Our Time”
Hemingway, a young American journalist living in Paris amongst a disillusioned generation after World War I, poured his experiences into “In Our Time.” The collection explores themes of war trauma, masculinity, loss, and the search for meaning. The fragmented structure, with its abrupt shifts in time and perspective, mirrored the fractured world view of the Lost Generation.
The original 1924 edition, with its lowercase title “in our time,” was limited to a print run of 300 copies. However, a printing error resulted in only 170 copies being released. These were printed on Rives handmade paper and bound in distinctive paper-covered boards. This scarcity, coupled with the book’s literary significance, makes a true first edition “In Our Time” a highly sought-after collectible, fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auction.
Lost in Paris: The Generation in 1924
While Hemingway’s “In Our Time” was finding its way into the hands of a select few readers, the Lost Generation was in full swing in Paris. F. Scott Fitzgerald, another prominent member, published his debut novel, “This Side of Paradise,” the same year. This coming-of-age story captured the disillusionment and hedonism of the post-war generation.
Meanwhile, Gertrude Stein, a literary patron and mentor to many Lost Generation writers, continued to be a central figure in Parisian artistic circles. She opened her Parisian salon, a gathering place for artists, writers, and intellectuals, fostering the creative ferment of the era.
Other notable members of the Lost Generation like Ezra Pound and Sylvia Beach were also in Paris in 1924. Pound, a poet and editor, helped edit “In Our Time” and championed the work of many Lost Generation writers. Beach, owner of the legendary Shakespeare and Company bookstore, played a crucial role in promoting and selling their work.
