I haven't read much Hemingway (since I don't read any fiction anymore).
But in the past I have. Indeed - my hobby used to be reading lots and lots of short stories. It quite an interesting genre - since you can read most of the short story writers. Whereas there is no chance of ever reading all of the guys who have written novels.
So - I checked out alot of Hemingway's short stories. And one thing that stood out for me is the effort he put into choosing his titles. Often his titles were more more interesting (in a weird sort of way) that the story. Since they stuck in the memory taunting you into thinking they offered a key to understanding the story.
Anyway - my favourite Hemingway book was 'Death In The Afternoon'. Which hapens to be a non-fiction work. It is a book devoted to his obsession with bullfighting. It is beautifully written - he really captures the sights and sounds of Spain in ana incredible way.
And even though I had no interest in bullfighting - the book draws you in. Hemingway sees bullfighting as part drama, part sport and part artform. He then goes on to describe his favourite bullfighters. And the way he describes them is something I can relate to from other fields of art and sport. I really like the way he would talk about how one bullfighter was much better than the other. Yet the other was his favourite since - even though he was usually average and half drunk - occasionally he would pull something off which was astonishing and unique.
The way Hemingway describes bullfighting struck me as nice meditation on the nature of all sport and art.
Hemingway is an interesting guy. In a weird sort of way he was of a type which attracts many people to this forum. Since he seemed to push himself to travel, hunt big game, go to bullfights, attend boxing fights, report from warzones, fly planes (back when this was a risky hobby), go deep sea fishing, write alot and drink heavily - all in the pursuit of an interesting, adventurous life.
I am not sure if it came natuarally to him. Which is intriguing - since it suggests he had a deliberate plan to try and make improve his life. But he seemed determined to be The Most Interesting Man In The World.
I think towards the end of his life - depression and heavy drink got to him. I remember Martin Gardner writing that he was quite a shambling, pathetic figure when he walked past him in New York towards the end of his life.
Towards the end of his life he crashed his plane and went missing for a few days. After a few days he was missing - presumed dead. So - some newspapers published his obituaries. And Hemingway was not happy that his genius was praised enough in his own obituaries.
His life ended with suicide. In the twentieth century alot of my favourite writers killed themselves. Hemingway, Hunter S Thompson and Richard Brautigan (the funniest novelist I have ever read).
His suicide is interesting since some think it relates to the death of his father (who - like Hemingway - also killed himself with a shotgun to the head). More than that - I read an article once which spoke about how Hemingway spent his life deliberately injuring his head.
Seems Hemingway used to regularly injure his head - either as attempts at suicide or as ways of dealing with stress. It was an interesting and strange article - and I will pass along the link if I find it.
I am not sure. But this might be the article. It is worth a read anyway since it is an indepth psychological look at the reasons behind his suicide:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people...94619.html
Lastly - here is a six word short sotry that Hemingway supposedly wrote. But - as with all good anecdotes - later research seems to suggest he didn't actually write it. But who knows?
Anyway here it is - since it is now a part of the Hemingway legend:
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
But in the past I have. Indeed - my hobby used to be reading lots and lots of short stories. It quite an interesting genre - since you can read most of the short story writers. Whereas there is no chance of ever reading all of the guys who have written novels.
So - I checked out alot of Hemingway's short stories. And one thing that stood out for me is the effort he put into choosing his titles. Often his titles were more more interesting (in a weird sort of way) that the story. Since they stuck in the memory taunting you into thinking they offered a key to understanding the story.
Anyway - my favourite Hemingway book was 'Death In The Afternoon'. Which hapens to be a non-fiction work. It is a book devoted to his obsession with bullfighting. It is beautifully written - he really captures the sights and sounds of Spain in ana incredible way.
And even though I had no interest in bullfighting - the book draws you in. Hemingway sees bullfighting as part drama, part sport and part artform. He then goes on to describe his favourite bullfighters. And the way he describes them is something I can relate to from other fields of art and sport. I really like the way he would talk about how one bullfighter was much better than the other. Yet the other was his favourite since - even though he was usually average and half drunk - occasionally he would pull something off which was astonishing and unique.
The way Hemingway describes bullfighting struck me as nice meditation on the nature of all sport and art.
Hemingway is an interesting guy. In a weird sort of way he was of a type which attracts many people to this forum. Since he seemed to push himself to travel, hunt big game, go to bullfights, attend boxing fights, report from warzones, fly planes (back when this was a risky hobby), go deep sea fishing, write alot and drink heavily - all in the pursuit of an interesting, adventurous life.
I am not sure if it came natuarally to him. Which is intriguing - since it suggests he had a deliberate plan to try and make improve his life. But he seemed determined to be The Most Interesting Man In The World.
I think towards the end of his life - depression and heavy drink got to him. I remember Martin Gardner writing that he was quite a shambling, pathetic figure when he walked past him in New York towards the end of his life.
Towards the end of his life he crashed his plane and went missing for a few days. After a few days he was missing - presumed dead. So - some newspapers published his obituaries. And Hemingway was not happy that his genius was praised enough in his own obituaries.
His life ended with suicide. In the twentieth century alot of my favourite writers killed themselves. Hemingway, Hunter S Thompson and Richard Brautigan (the funniest novelist I have ever read).
His suicide is interesting since some think it relates to the death of his father (who - like Hemingway - also killed himself with a shotgun to the head). More than that - I read an article once which spoke about how Hemingway spent his life deliberately injuring his head.
Seems Hemingway used to regularly injure his head - either as attempts at suicide or as ways of dealing with stress. It was an interesting and strange article - and I will pass along the link if I find it.
I am not sure. But this might be the article. It is worth a read anyway since it is an indepth psychological look at the reasons behind his suicide:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people...94619.html
Lastly - here is a six word short sotry that Hemingway supposedly wrote. But - as with all good anecdotes - later research seems to suggest he didn't actually write it. But who knows?
Anyway here it is - since it is now a part of the Hemingway legend:
For sale: baby shoes, never worn.
![[Image: 41st-gSvw7L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-stic..._OU01_.jpg]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41st-gSvw7L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-65,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg){kind=icon}
![[Image: Nc56zL6.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/Nc56zL6.jpg)
![[Image: Y4Ar35i.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/Y4Ar35i.jpg)
![[Image: elementary.jpg]](http://www.daydalus.net/img/04-21-2006/elementary.jpg)
![[Image: 9780307833525_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG]](http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9780307833525_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG)
![[Image: the-black-count.jpg]](https://images.whitcoulls.co.nz/images/whit/160c245a/160c245a-189e-410b-b01e-75797b4a0210/0/0/plain/the-black-count.jpg)
![[Image: influence-the-psychology-of-persuasion.jpg]](http://nickroshon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/influence-the-psychology-of-persuasion.jpg)