"A Farewell to Arms" Destined for the British Stage

In a surprising move, the estate of Ernest Hemingway has granted unprecedented permission to adapt A Farewell to Arms for the stage. An English theatre company called "Imitating the Dog" successfully petitioned the estate for the rights. The play will make its debut at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster in October, before embarking on tours of England and Italy.

Andrew Quick, director of the company, said his initial appeal was rejected by the Hemingway estate, but they eventually warmed to his proposal. The adaptation will be the first time the book has ever been staged in United Kingdom and the first time it has been performed anywhere in the world since a short-lived - and poorly received - Broadway run in 1930.

"Imitating the Dog will approach Hemingway's narrative through the company's unique visual style using projection techniques to create a magical and highly accessible version of the novel for all audiences," said Quick in an interview with the BBC.

Hemingway's classic semi-autobiographical novel of WWI has seen a resurgence in interest this year, the centenary of the war's start.