An essay on Across the River and Into the Trees by Nathan Kotas.
I must admit that this was probably my least favorite of the Hemingway novels we have read so far. This seemed wandering and without direction and at times I couldn’t stand reading it. Towards the end of the novel the dialogue became more direct and it seemed to regain some of the clarity and subtleties I have come to expect from a Hemingway story.
The title reminds me of a scene in “Big Two Hearted River” where Nick looks across the swamp and decides not to enter into it today. He sees it as an unknown that he is unable to deal with at this time and none of the Hemingway characters have been able to deal with it until Richard Cantwell. I believe the Colonel steps into the swamp, or in this case across the river. He is moving into a different location that is completely unknown to him.
I believe Renata was well portrayed as a young girl tying to affirm her relationship with an older man. I did not particularly like her and her seemingly insecure mannerisms.
I really liked the part where the Colonel, upon being asked by Renata why he isn’t president, says he has never worn a bowtie and isn’t an unsuccessful haberdasher so he isn’t qualified to be president. A little barb at President Truman, and people who are in charge and only give orders, that would have been missed if the reader didn’t pay close attention. The colonel seems aware of his intentions the whole time and just seems to be getting his life in order before he checks out. Also. Stonewall Jackson died as a result of wounds suffered from his own soldiers; who shot him accidentally.
