Papa Hemingway

You really get to understand the man and his personality in this book. Also how a passionate career can overtake you life and dominate your later years.Recommend highly for people interested in biography.

Before I wrote this review I read all of the others and made comments on several. That, I thought, would be my contribution to the reviews of this book. But now that I have read all of the extant reviews, I find that I might be able to add a few new thoughts.I had read two other biographies of EH before I bought this memoir by Hotchner (because they were in my library and the Hotchner book was not). So I bought Hotchner based upon the fine reviews of this book found here. My library should have this one and I will offer same to them, even though mine is an ex-library book itself!. Still, those fellow reviewers have it quite right: this is the best way to really find out what EH was all about. As far as I know. (There have been some other recommends and I will check those out).Prior to reading this memoir (and the other books that really were bios), I had not read any Hemingway other than "The Old Man and the Sea" (TOMATS), and that because it was assigned way back when I was in public school. Since then I have read half of "The Sun Also Rises" and then lost interest in the story and characters. I am going to try again with Hemingway after reading Hotchner, with "Farewell" and the short "Snows of K". And maybe also "Bell Tolls". So suffice to say I was not a Hemingway fan.Actually I was more curious about him because he is a fellow Sun in Cancer. I was able to find an accurate (as far as we know) birth-time and his Ascendent turned out to be Virgo, of all things. I am still studying his birth chart trying to see just where it should show why Hem was the way he was. He is certainly the most atypical Cancer I've ever seen! But I shall say no more about this angle as it does not interest most people.This is a good book. That much can be said without reservations. I agree with another reviewer that if you want to know about the real "Papa Hemingway" this is the book. The subtitle is "Ectasy and Sorrow". One can see the sorrow lurking below the surfact throughout before it comes to the fore at the end. Very sad and another indictment of alcohol if not used with caution.

See Philip Young's article in the 1966 Atlantic Monthly "On Dismembering Hemingway." He rightly points out that many of Hotchner's "recollections" were actually plagiarized by Hotchner from other sources. Also, Hotchner's recollections of conversations were quite probably lifted from letters from Hemingway to him. So it's entertaining, but don't believe too much of what you read.

Hemingway is my guilty obsession. He was very much an ass but he was also determined to be a great writer. He is my favorite writer because he can make you feel a part of the story. This gives you a chance to be in his life outside of his books.I will always be a Hemingway girl. 🫶🏽

This is a great memoir Hotchner has written containing personal glimpses of Hemingway during the waning years of his career, ironically at the high water mark of his popular acclaim. I especially enjoyed the conversations and dialogue he had with Papa and Hotch's observations during his declining health. Much is revealed about the creation of many of his novels and short stories though the reader should be tempered by Hemingway's penchant for burnishing his memories & reputation at times. The author does an admirable job of providing detail and context about his many travels & visits with Papa. You will come away with a better understanding of Hemingway through a personal perspective, albeit without some of the more critical coverage by other biographers such as Carlos Baker & Denis Brian. Both of them provide a lot of research presented in a highly objective way. To my knowledge no other friend of Hemingway's has provided as rich an account of their relationship with him. I highly recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed many of Hemingway's novels and short stories and wants to learn more about one of the finest writers of the 20th century.

What a life! Fabulous story. At times the author seems to slip in new characters but then so many were involved it is hard to remember who is who and why.A worthy story and worth your time.

I fell in love with Hemingway when I read "The Paris Wife". This is the second book I have read about him. I enjoyedPapa Hemingway a Personal Account because A. E. Hotchner was a close friend of Hemingway's and he wrote it not too long after Ernest's death. The Paris Wife mainly covered his relationship with Hadley, his first wife, and his earlier years. This book covers more of his marriage to Mary in later years, up until the end, in a very close up and personal way."Anyway, you don't own anything until you give it away." Ernest was forever giving away his possessions to make sure he would never be possessed by them ...

Pop bio of Hemingway, largely in Cuba. You won't learn anything at all about his work or politics.

La biografia di Hemingway scritta dal suo editor, compagno di merende e scorribande, unico testimone titolato, insieme a Fernanda Pivano che l'ha tradotto e frequentato.Triste che questo libro, che fa venir voglia di rileggere l'Autore, l'Uomo, il Personaggio, premio Nobel, premio Pulizer e chissà cos'altro non venga ristampato in italiano per "investire", magari, su sedicenti influencer orgogliosamente a digiuno da qualsiasi lettura. Sento lamenti per la disaffezione alla lettura e poi...Una preghiera ad Amazon: filtrate, vi prego, i commenti sulla qualità del servizio, sulle descrizioni incomplete o fuorvianti: ha senso che un libro possa estasiare o disgustare, ma una stella da parte chi - sfortuna lui - non ha avuto modo di leggerlo...non può fare media.

Many interesting observations and insights into a truly unique individual. His ability to observe daily life around him was the underlying bedrock behind his writing, though some of them were obviously flawed or deeply biased; for example, his observation that you will not find an attractive woman from the Toulouse region until you reach Paris. His interaction with (and observation with) other famous people of his era was also interesting as was his movements around France. Having visited many of the towns and cities he mentioned, I felt I was getting a rear view mirror insight into an earlier era. Tragic that it ended the way it did. A great loss.

With so many books on EH, it's difficult to know where to start. I bought this first because Hotchner knew Hemingway, travelled with him, worked with him etc. Timelines are Havana 1948 to Ketchum 1961. From an observation point "Hotch" tells what he sees - not criticizing, but observing - exactly how Hemingway wrote...Some will find book tough - drinking, carousing, however if we translate to "celebrity" which is what Hemingway was, you get inside view from a friend. Who better than to tell us who Hemingway was? Hotchner incurred wrath of the family for publishing. I'd rather read about the 'man' from those who were with him, in his time, than the plethora of critics who analyse minutiae. Would I have liked to have been there - part of the Quadrilla? Yes, absolutely.One of the great elements was description of the era - people, cities, hotels, restaurants, places - fascinating and if anything we have lost the charm that once was. An important title IF readers want to get close to the action of Ernest.

broken binding but otherwise in good shape

This was an amazing read.A.E.Hotchner met Ernest Hemingway in Havana in 1948. From that point forward they forged a close personal friendship. I doubt that there was anyone else, beside Mrs. Hemingway, who was closer to the real Ernest.You already know the ending. So did I before I started reading the book. That does not stop your enjoyment of Hotchner's recollection of their time together. This book will leave you with a greater appreciation of Hemingway the man.It was hard to read the last couple of chapters leading up to Hemingway's suicide on July 2, 1961. It was also heartening to know that he had enjoyed his life up until his last couple of years.Hemingway was above all, true to himself. Read this book. You will fully understand what that means.