A Farewell to Arms - Historical Novel The novel "A Farewell to Arms" should be classified as a historical novel. Many people reading this book might interpret it as a war novel, when in reality it was one of the greatest romance novels written of its time. Reading this book you notice how every important event of the war is overshadowed by the strong love story behind it. The love story revolves around two people, Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley. Frederic is a young American ambulance driver for the Italian army during the First World War. He meets Catherine, a beautiful English nurse, near the front between Italy and Austria. Frederic's relationship with Catherine initially consists of a game based on his attempts to seduce her. He makes an attempt to kiss her and is immediately slapped by an offended Catherine. Later in the story, Frederic is injured and sent to the American hospital where Catherine works. Here he finds a part of himself that he had never had before, the ability to love. This is where his feelings for Catherine become extremely apparent. Their relationship progresses and they begin a passionate romance. After hospitalization, Frederic returns to the war front. During this time, Hemmingway strongly indicates the love Frederic has for Catherine. It is clear that Federico is distracted by his love for Caterina. During a massive retreat by the Austrians and Germans, the Italian forces become disorganized and chaotic. Frederic is forced to shoot an engineer sergeant under his command, and in the confusion he is arrested by the Italian military police for the crime of not being Italian. Disgusted with the army and facing death, Frederic decides he has had enough of war; he dives into the river to escape. After swimming to safety, Frederic boards a train and is reunited with Catherine. She is pregnant with their child. With the help of an Italian bartender, Catherine and Frederic escape to Switzerland and plan to get married after the baby is born. When Catherine goes into labor, the doctor suddenly discovers that her pelvis is too narrow to deliver the baby. He attempts an unsuccessful caesarean section and she dies in childbirth with the baby. For Frederic, his corpse is like a statue; he returns to his hotel without finding a way to say goodbye, seemingly lost forever.