The Paris Wife
by Paula McLain
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain holds a well received rating of 3.79 out of 5, based on 191.9K reader ratings. First published in 2011. The book spans 314 pages.
About The Paris Wife
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley. Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for. A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Paula McLain |
| Published | 2011 |
| Pages | 314 |
| Genres | Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance |
| Average Rating | 3.79 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 191,850 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Paris Wife?
The Paris Wife is categorized as Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance. Its primary genre classification is Romance.
Is The Paris Wife worth reading?
Based on 191.9K reader ratings, The Paris Wife has an average score of 3.79 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is The Paris Wife?
The Paris Wife has 314 pages.
Who wrote The Paris Wife?
The Paris Wife was written by Paula McLain. It was first published in 2011.
What is the ISBN for The Paris Wife?
The ISBN-13 for The Paris Wife is 9780345521310.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
