The Snows of Kilimanjaro is a short story by Ernest Hemingway, first published in Esquire magazine in 1936. It is the story of Harry, a writer who is dying of gangrene while on safari in Africa. As he lies in his tent, he reflects on his life and his failed ambitions. He remembers his past loves, his travels, and his writing, and he regrets not having achieved more. He also reflects on his current situation, and his impending death. As he lies there, he is visited by a hyena, which he believes is a symbol of his own death. In the end, he dies, and his body is taken away by the hyena. The story is a meditation on life, death, and the choices we make.
By Ernest Hemingway · First published 1936 · Genre: Modernist Literature, Adventure Fiction, Tragedy