To Have and Have Not

To Have and Have Not is a crime novel by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1937. It centers on Harry Morgan, a fishing boat captain based out of Key West, Florida, and follows the hard-edged pressures around his work and the money problems that shape his life. Written in English, it comes from an early stage in Hemingway’s career, when he was already established but still working with an American setting that feels grounded and everyday.

This is a good fit for readers who want Hemingway’s spare, controlled style in a story built around labor, risk, and social strain rather than fast plot turns. It is relatively compact in feel and leans on atmosphere, character, and tension that comes from ordinary circumstances. Readers who like crime fiction with a literary, realistic edge will probably feel at home with it, especially if they prefer the mood and economy of the writing over a heavily plotted mystery.