A Simple Enquiry

"A Simple Enquiry" is a short story written by Ernest Hemingway.^[1] It was published in 1927 in the collection Men Without Women and is notable for its focus on homosexuality.^[2][3]

"A Simple Enquiry"
Short story by Ernest Hemingway
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Short story
Publication
Published in	The Little Review
Publication type	Periodical
Media type	Print
Publication date	March 1927

Synopsis

Three Italian soldiers are snowbound. The senior soldier, the Major, calls a 19-year-old orderly into his room and asks whether he had ever loved a woman. Most critics interpret the ensuing conversation as the major propositioning the orderly. When his questions are rebuffed, he dismisses the orderly from the room with the understanding that he will not press the issue. The major questions to himself whether the orderly was telling the truth.

Characters

• The major
• Tonani, an adjutant
• Pinin, the major's orderly