Synopsis
Frederic Henry is an American serving as a lieutenant in the Italian army during WWI; he is in the Italian Ambulance Corps. Besides driving up to the front to take care of the injured by ambulance, Frederic spends the rest of his time in a town where the hospital he stays in is. He spends time with his very good friend Rinaldi the surgeon and also the priest. They often drink various sorts of wine and liquors, eat at the mess, and talk with women.
Frederic eventually meets a very beautiful nurse from England named Catherine Barkley with whom he falls in love with, or so he pretends at first. One day while Frederic was up at the front he was injured, but was still able to partake in a heroic action from which he is awarded a medal after the war. After being away from Catherine and having to go to an American hospital, Frederic realizes his actual love for Catherine. At the American hospital Frederic receives treatment for his wounds, with Catherine by his side, falling more in love with each other. Here he lives a very civilian like lifestyle and enjoys being away from the war.
Frederic eventually is sent back to the front where he meets up with his old friends and old job at the Ambulance Corps, leaving behind a pregnant Catherine. The Germans break through the lines which causes a massive retreat on the allied side of the war. Unfortunate events send Frederic into even more unfortunate events, which cause him to almost lose his life several times. From various help from others Frederic puts his life on the line and decides to run away from the war to escape with his love Catherine.
After a while of hiding Frederic learns that individuals were coming to arrest him and charge him for abandoning the war. Frederic and Catherine leave by boat for Switzerland where they would be in neutral territory. Here they live peacefully together and await the birth of their child, still in love, for now. Catherine begins to have complications with the baby during delivery and needs to have it surgically removed. Catherine dies of a hemmorage and the baby was dead when delivered.