Who does not know the name, Ernest Hemingway? The man is a literary fixture whose work has become recommended reading in schools, and his works are easily found in libraries. He is no doubt one of the greatest American writers who ever lived. However, like most artists and the rest of us mortals who cannot please everybody, Hemingway has his share of critics who do not hold him in high esteem. Critics often compared him to F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Faulkner—an unfair comparison because each of these respective men of letters has their distinct style. Hemingway was famous for his terse writing, and the body of work he left was far more voluminous compared to his contemporaries. Yet the more work he accomplished, the more criticism he reaped. From essays to novels, critics found a “bone to pick” with the famed writer. Hemingway’s work withstands scrutiny.

Common readers and literary scholars equate Hemingway with literary ingenuity. If we were to deconstruct Hemingway, we would discover that there is more to the man than just his literary legacy. He was a journalist who saw the horrors of World War 1, and he had a penchant for sports and outdoor adventures, notably boxing, hunting, and fishing. His passions and experiences make him an ideal author who had lived life, and it largely influenced the setting and themes of his work. His stories are set in places where he had been—France, Spain, Italy, and Cuba. Hemingway was meticulous about his writing. When he sat (or stood) to write, he analyzed every word and sentence he used and made sure that they served a function within the plot. A reading of The Old Man and the Sea attests to the power of how he employs form and function in his fiction.

Many critics deem his work as dull or bland since Hemingway writes in the traditional, chronological order. Critics view this as nothing new and that Hemingway’s work revels in being typical. It is in the very simplicity of Hemingway’s style that his audience finds his stories compelling. Many believe that his style is an offshoot of his training as a journalist.

Ernest Hemingway is sincere and deliberate in his style. He is known to be a master of dialogue but equally proficient in the craft of “show, don’t tell.” He took great pains to ensure that his work represented the best he had to offer, often revising multiple times. In telling his stories, Hemingway captures local color so efficiently that to some he is more of an international writer rather than a great American author. Whatever assessment critics and readers have of Hemingway, it does not negate the fact that he sets the bar for good writing.

Criticisms on Hemingway’s works, both positive and negative, are still prevalent in the present day. This is because his works have long entered the canon of American letters. He has become a favorite study in literature classrooms, and this further attests to his impact as a significant figure in world literature.