A good biography of Ernest Hemingway is an essential read for any literature enthusiast. It provides a comprehensive and in-depth look into the life and works of this iconic American writer. The biography is complete with a section of pictures that offer a visual glimpse into Hemingway's world. From his early days as a journalist to his later years as a celebrated novelist, the book tells you pretty much all you need to know about his personal and professional life. You'll learn about his relationships, his travels, and his writing process. The author has done an excellent job of researching and presenting the facts in an engaging and accessible way. Whether you're a die-hard Hemingway fan or just looking to learn more about this literary giant, this biography is a must-read.

The writer A E Hotchner's account of his friendship with Papa over a decade is truly remarkable.

It offers a unique and intimate perspective into their relationship, filled with interesting anecdotes and personal insights.

Hotchner's writing style is engaging and captivating, making it a pleasure to read.

Throughout the book, we get to see the different sides of Papa, both as a literary giant and as a friend.

The author's detailed descriptions and vivid imagery bring the story to life, allowing the reader to feel as if they are a part of their adventures.

This book is not only a great read for fans of Hemingway but also for anyone interested in a fascinating friendship story.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking book.

Started out fun and exciting. Hotchner provides a wealth of insights into what it was like to be Hemingway's friend and the activities he enjoyed: from bullfights, horse racing, and boxing to drinking, women, and most importantly, what his writing meant to him.

However, near the end, as in the final stages of his life, Hotchner's book takes a very depressing turn. But perhaps that was the intended point. It shows the complex and often troubled nature of Hemingway's later years.

Overall, it is a great book for die-hard Hemingway fans. It offers a unique perspective on the man and his work, and allows readers to get a closer look at the life and times of one of the greatest American writers.

The author met Hemingway in 1948 and they were close friends until the writer's death.

This means that the given biography reflects the last 13 years of Hemingway's life, which were colorful but increasingly complicated. One could nitpick about the quality of the writing if one wanted to, but I don't. The value of the book is the intimate look at the great figure's personal life, which was by no means cloudless.

Having gained a better sense of Hemingway's complex nature and attitude towards life through this book, there arose a desire to re-read some of his works.

This biography provides a unique perspective on Hemingway's later years, showing both the highs and lows of his life. It offers readers a chance to understand the man behind the famous writer and to see how his personal experiences influenced his work.

Overall, it is a fascinating read that gives new insights into one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century.

Hemingway led an extremely interesting life, to say the least. Reading his memoir truly reminds me of how incredibly fascinating life can be. He definitely challenged life to its fullest extent. Let me now highlight some of the aspects that really stood out for me.

All of Hemingway's books initially began as short stories. He never simply sat down and wrote a full-fledged novel. He had the remarkable discipline to start writing at 5:00 AM and wouldn't stop until 1:00 PM.

After that, he would emerge and mix a drink to cool down before having lunch. While enjoying his drink, he would read newspapers and magazines. As he put it, "he was too empty to talk." In the afternoon, he would take a nap. So by late afternoon, he was ready for the drinking and companionship that he thoroughly enjoyed.

After dinner, he would start to withdraw into himself. This was because his mind had already turned to the creative problems of his work. By the time he went to bed, which was always early, he knew the people, the events, the places, and even some of the dialogue that he would encounter the following day.

Hemingway lived in Key West for a short period of time. Then he bought a house in Cuba and also lived in Spain and Africa. However, his final place of residence was in Ohio.

Hemingway was constantly giving away his possessions. He did this to ensure that he would never be possessed by them. Apart from his hunting equipment and his paintings, he kept very few things of value. He once said, "You can have true affection for only a few things in your life." So, let's get rid of the clutter.

Hemingway believed that Huckleberry Finn was the best American book ever written. He only wrote once on any one theme. He stated, "if I don't write it all that one time, then it is not worth saying."

Hemingway made very few public appearances during his lifetime. This was due to his intense shyness and his deep-seated hatred of getting dressed up. He said, "wearing underwear is as formal as I ever hope to get." He even admitted that he never wore any underwear.

Hemingway was always very considerate of the hotel people who served him. There was a bellboy at one of the hotels he frequently visited who wanted to be a matador. So, Hemingway bought him a pair of two-year-old bulls to fight.

Hemingway always maintained a strict diet. He avoided beer, starches, and meat. Fish, salads, vegetables, and calves' liver were allowed. Scotch, without limit, was also permissible.

Hemingway graduated from Oak Park High School in Illinois. Instead of going to college, he went to war. When he returned from the war, it was already too late for him to go to college.

Later in life, Hemingway became very paranoid and didn't trust many people. He had constant delusions and hallucinations. On more than one occasion, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and talked about destroying himself.

The last few years of Hemingway's life were extremely challenging for all the people who surrounded him. His constant fear of being conspired against and all kinds of crazy stories took a heavy toll on his family.

I absolutely loved this memoir. It is extremely well-written, presenting a detailed account of the life of a talented writer.

While it does touch upon the darker aspects of the writer's life, it sometimes seems to skip over them rather quickly. However, they are still there, lurking beneath the surface.

This memoir provides a great insight into the mind and experiences of a writer who, like many others, is conflicted. We get to see the highs and lows, the joys and the sorrows, that come with being a creative individual.

Overall, it is a fascinating read that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the life of a writer or in memoirs in general. It is a testament to the power of the written word and the ability of a writer to share their story with the world.

What an absolute treat it is to read Hotchner's work!

His style is truly captivating, being both whimsical and detailed. It's a unique combination that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. I simply love it!

The way he shares Hemingway's words is truly priceless. It gives us a deeper insight into the mind and thoughts of the great author. I found myself completely immersed in the book and didn't want to put it down for a second.

However, I did have to put it down often because I didn't want it to end too soon. I treated the book like a beautiful bottle of red wine, savoring every moment.

I would smell it, so to speak, by simply looking at the cover and imagining what lay inside. Then I would sip it, reading a few paragraphs at a time, because it was so full of condensed flavor that I couldn't take more than that in one sitting. It was a truly wonderful reading experience.

Fascinating insights into Hotchner's friendship with Hemingway. It's both a portrait and a sort of conversation book. With a not insignificant touch of mythologizing in the comparison. However, the description of the author's mental and physical breakdown in the final phase of his life is both gripping and chilling.

This account offers a unique perspective on Hemingway, revealing aspects of his personality and life that might otherwise remain hidden. Hotchner's relationship with Hemingway seems to have been complex and multi-faceted, filled with both admiration and perhaps a hint of idolization.

The mention of Hemingway's mental and physical state in his later years is particularly poignant. It makes one wonder about the toll that success, fame, and personal demons can take on a person.

Overall, this piece provides a thought-provoking look at Hemingway through the eyes of his friend, Hotchner. It leaves the reader with a deeper understanding of the man and his works.

A very personal look at Ernest Hemingway.

There are many fascinating insights into Hemingway. It is evident that he was extremely intelligent, yet it is also clear that he was severely emotionally ill when he took his own life.

Interesting vignettes are presented about his time in Cuba and Spain, as well as his passion for bullfighting and matadors. At the end of his life, numerous factors converged to undermine his capabilities and contribute to his depression and anxiety.

Given his family history, there must be a genetic component to his emotional illness and suicide. Sadly, the attempts to treat his emotional illness were a dismal failure.

The author clearly had a deep acquaintance with Hemingway and possessed a great deal of understanding into his mind.

Some of the information regarding Hemingway's work habits was truly captivating. It makes one wonder about the complex inner world of this literary giant and how his personal struggles influenced his remarkable body of work.

Perhaps by delving into his life and emotions, we can gain a better appreciation for the genius that was Ernest Hemingway.

This was truly a deeply affectionate account penned by a friend of Ernest Hemingway. The friend had spent a substantial amount of time with Hemingway during the final 13 or 14 years of his life.

He doesn't shy away from presenting Hemingway's flaws or his lifestyle. Instead, he simply portrays who Hemingway was as an individual and as a friend. It offers a refreshing perspective on the renowned writer, devoid of criticism or judgment, yet still not concealing the truth.

The book solely reflects the last years of Ernest Hemingway and is not a comprehensive biography of his entire life. It is a memoir from a trusted friend. I found it quite enjoyable.

However, I must admit that the detailed description of bullfighting in chapter 12 was a bit much for me.

Good grief, enough of that already.

I dug this book up after visiting the Hemingway Key West House. It was truly an eye-opening experience.

Interestingly, I also discovered that the author had recently passed away this February at the remarkable age of 102.

This book strongly underlines the belief that talented, artistic individuals often struggle with some form of mental disability. Hemingway's life was filled with great adventure, but it also left him with several instances of significant physical trauma and lifelong ailments.

The book goes into great detail about the hard work that went into creating his novels and short stories. Hotchner's friendship with Hemingway and his insights on the Nobel prize-winning author's numerous suicide attempts towards the end of his life are quite descriptive and deeply sad.

Once Hemingway decided that his ailments were preventing him from being creative, he felt he could no longer continue living. He truly lived life on his own terms all the way to the end.

I am now extremely interested to read about how Hotchner managed to reach the age of 102. It's quite a remarkable feat and I'm eager to learn more about his life and experiences.

This started out very good.

At the beginning, it had a great deal of potential and held my attention firmly.

However, as it progressed, it seemed to drag on and on interminably.

The story became repetitive and lacking in新意, causing my interest to wane steadily.

Soon enough, I found myself getting very bored with it.

The more I read, the less engaged I became.

Eventually, I simply couldn't even finish it.

It was a real disappointment, considering how promising it had seemed at the start.

I had high hopes for this, but unfortunately, it failed to live up to them.

Perhaps with some tighter editing and a more focused narrative, it could have been a much better piece.

As it stands now, though, it left me feeling rather unfulfilled.