Chapter 1 Summary

Hemingway begins the book with Robert Jordan and an elderly peasant man named Anselmo in the mountains of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Jordan is on a mission from General Golz to blow up an enemy bridge and Anselmo has been his guide. Jordan thinks forgetting Anselmo's name is a bad omen. They discuss where to hide the explosives and the distance to the bridge.

Robert Jordan and General Golz discuss the coming attack. They arrive at a plan as to when Jordan will blow the bridge, as it cannot happen too far in advance of the attack. Golz tells him to blow the bridge when the attack begins. It is very important that the bridge be blown to cut off the enemy's supply lines. Golz asks Jordan if he likes "partizan work" which is a Russian term for guerilla work. Jordan...