Celebrating 100 years of
The Sun ALSO Rises
the centennial
october 22, 2026
One hundred years ago Boni & Liveright published The Sun Also Rises for the first time. Twenty-six-year-old Ernest Hemingway had written the first draft in six weeks in the cafés of Montparnasse, surrounded by the real people who would become its characters.
This year, the Hemingway family marks that anniversary through the estate's continued work to bring Hemingway's writing to new readers. The centennial is not only a moment of retrospection, but a reminder that the novel's questions can still be explored.
For press inquiries about centennial coverage, contact: bettina@collective222.net
Set in post-WWI Europe, The Sun Also Rises captures the disillusionment and emotional struggle of the Lost Generation through the eyes of war-injured Jake Barnes and the alluring Brett Ashley.
Set against the backdrop of 1920s Paris and the bullfighting arenas of Pamplona, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises delves into the lives of American and British expatriates grappling with the disillusionment following World War I. Central to the narrative are Jake Barnes, a war-injured journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, a spirited and emotionally complex woman. Their journey through Spain during the Festival of San Fermín exposes the group’s fractured relationships and their quest for meaning in a post-war world.
Hemingway’s signature terse prose captures themes of masculinity, love, and existential despair, reflecting the sentiments of the Lost Generation. As the novel approaches its centennial anniversary on October 22, 2026, it continues to resonate with readers, offering insights into the human condition and the search for purpose amidst chaos.
In anticipation of the 100th anniversary, several publishers have released special editions of The Sun Also Rises. For instance, Copperhead Press announced a forthcoming edition featuring illustrations by Juan Gris, a master of cubist and modernist art. Additionally, the Hemingway Society is organizing a panel titled “The Sun Also Rises at 100” at the 2026 Modern Language Association Convention in Toronto, inviting scholarly discussions on the novel’s enduring relevance.
A Century in Cover
The evolving visual identity of a literary classic
Over the past hundred years, the cover art for The Sun Also Rises has continually evolved with changing design sensibilities and cultural tastes. From the bold, modernist 1926 Scribner to later interpretations featuring Parisian cafés, Spanish bullfights, and photographic compositions, each era has reimagined the novel’s visual identity. Today, covers range from heritage-inspired tributes to minimalist typography, reflecting the timeless nature of Hemingway’s work and its ability to resonate with new generations of readers.
