The Paris Wife: A Novel

In 1920 Chicago, Hadley Richardson, a quiet twenty-eight-year-old, meets Ernest Hemingway and believes she has found love again after years of doubt. Following a quick courtship and marriage, they move to Paris, where they join a vibrant circle of writers and artists known as the "Lost Generation," including Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Despite their deep affection, the Hemingways struggle to adapt to the intense, bohemian lifestyle of Jazz Age Paris. While Ernest works on the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises, seeking to establish his literary reputation, Hadley attempts to maintain her identity as she navigates her roles as wife, friend, and muse. Their marriage eventually faces a critical test when a deception emerges, threatening to destroy what they have built together. This novel portrays the complexities of love and loyalty during a transformative period in literary history.