This book is truly great.

At certain moments, I had the vivid impression that I was seated right there on the table with Hemingway and Hotchner, intently listening to their engaging conversations.

All I needed was a glass of wine to complete the picture, making it seem as if the three of us were enjoying a drink together.

Thanks to this book, I feel that I have gained a much deeper understanding of Hemingway.

Most people tend to think of him merely as a macho and a tough guy. However, the reality is that he was actually a highly sensitive man.

And towards the end of his life, he endured far more than what some of us might imagine.

If you are a passionate Hemingway fan and渴望 to know more about him as a real human being, then I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

It offers a unique and fascinating perspective into the mind and life of this literary giant.

You will be captivated by the stories and insights shared within its pages.

So don't hesitate, pick up this book and embark on a journey to discover the true Hemingway.

Even those who seem larger than life are in fact human and are mortal. This is vividly illustrated when we take a hold-nothing-back look at the decline of Hemingway's mental fortitude in his later years. Despite this, the article still manages to showcase the man in his prime, highlighting his past glory and achievements. It is truly a poignant contrast.

What makes it even more tragic is the realization that his "delusions" about being bugged and tracked by the FBI weren't all that delusional after all. In hindsight, it becomes clear that there may have been some truth to his fears. This adds an extra layer of complexity and sadness to his story, making us wonder about the toll that paranoia and suspicion can take on a person's mental health and well-being.

Overall, the article offers a fascinating and deeply moving exploration of Hemingway's life and the forces that ultimately led to his downfall. It serves as a reminder that even the greatest of us are not immune to the ravages of time and mental illness.

I found this book to be extremely interesting. Very interesting

I truly loved it, despite the fact that I was frequently annoyed with Papa. Reading memoirs is of great importance as it allows us to gain a deeper understanding of why people behave the way they do. It provides us with a unique perspective into their lives, experiences, and the factors that have shaped their personalities. Through the author's words, we can witness the joys, sorrows, and challenges they have faced, and in doing so, we can develop a greater sense of empathy and compassion. This particular memoir offers a captivating account that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human condition and understanding the complex nature of individuals.

I read this book shortly after it was published.

In the decades that have passed since then, it still remains a truly fascinating look at one of our greatest American authors.

I vividly recall hoping to uncover a reason for Hemingway's descent into despair.

He had this larger-than-life, machismo persona that was so prominent.

Yet, ultimately, he did not seem to live by what he himself had written.

His famous words, "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are stronger at the broken places," seemed almost ironic in light of his own actions.

Believing that he had extracted everything he could from life, he took his own life at the age of 61, completely without hope.

This lack of hope, in essence, meant that he had no trust in God, whom he had never failed to ignore or not acknowledge.

It was truly a sad and tragic end, indeed!

One that leaves us pondering about the complex nature of this great writer and the demons that may have haunted him.

Oh dear! Ernest Hemingway can be a bit of a bore, and I've only managed to wade through to the end of the first chapter!

I have no doubt about the sincerity of his biographer, A.E. Hotchner. It's because of him that I will persevere, whether by skimming or picking out bits and pieces.

I decided to read this book, which has been sitting on my shelf for the last 40 years, because my love for Paris led me to read EH's "A Movable Feast". That was yet another disappointment, but I was willing to do a bit more research before passing judgment.

God, I wish I were reading about Mary McCarthy, Janet Flanner, John Adams... but this American is truly the pits.

I love the fact that Janet Flanner, a far superior human being and writer who knew EH in Paris, is very firm in her belief that he "stole" his style from Gertie Stein. Could you ever imagine Ernie giving any credit to a woman? He was one of the last of the macho males, a self-promoter who lived in his own fantasy world. Like so many such males, he had a fragile ego that shattered when faced with reality. And did he really fight on the side of Franco during the Spanish Civil War? That alone would cast doubt on his intellectual credentials.

This book may have some value as a case study due to Hotchner's honesty.

Later, after doing some research to give Ernie some justice regarding the Spanish Civil War, having read that he fought for the Loyalists - were they Republicans or Royalists? The answer is that the Loyalists were those loyal to the government in power, i.e., the Republicans. The Royalists were definitely not. God bless you, Ernie!

I've decided to skim through the book rather thoroughly and began last night.

Ernest Hemingway, with his bravado and machismo, endeavored to overcome the Race of Giants. In contrast, I, in the Christian way, strived to quell their domineering shadows both within and without, relying on Faith and the Seven Virtues.

Regrettably, neither of us achieved our goals. However, I was consoled by the Gift of Peace.

This book was one I read during the tumultuous summer of 1963. Thanks to my articulate Goodreads co-conspirators in the art of book reviews, like my friend Sharon, for revealing details that I had forgotten.

Just as Hemingway began his perilous drift in mythmaking during the ten years Hochner knew him, by 1963, my own dangerous drift put me at risk.

From this point onward, during the first two decisive years of puberty, I was without my father's guidance.

My father had taken a two-year sabbatical to advance his prestigious career as a research scientist with a post-doctoral fellowship, far from our Ontario home base in the southwest, at a university renowned for its biochemistry department.

That late summer, without a father, my mother strictly disciplined me to avoid my male friends and all male camaraderie. Although I envied Hochner's rough-and-tumble ways with Hemingway, whom my peers called Hem, I could only envy such easy friendship as I entered my freshman year of high school.

Yet, my mother's innate caution paid off. Seven years later, I realized that coming of age was a dead end for youthful introspection. I was grateful for her caution then.

I began my mother-directed strict hour of homework lying on my bedroom hardwood floor, kept immaculate by our immigrant German housekeeper.

She had experienced both Nazi and Communist threats and cherished her Canadian freedoms, working and talking with a dynamic and breakneck speed. Blame it on the schnitzel.

When my father returned two years later, the first thing he did was buy me a desk.

But during those first few years of high school, I became more and more of a daydreamer adrift.

I would daydream through each teaching session, often about my female classmates, with embarrassingly obvious effects.

But as a radical introvert, I never laughed. I was coddled.

I was ripe for the macho bullying that began in my junior year when my friends and I were separated by new school boundaries and I was relocated to a new school in the southwest suburbs.

So I still had friends at school.

But home was a place to improve my grades under supervision.

Hemingway never complained about his lost higher education experiences.

His style was simple and direct.

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

And not just evade coming of age, as Hemingway and I both did, but also gain from that evasion a directness that gives true mettle to a young man:

For a Kid’s gotta become a MAN in his Braveheart.

4+ stars.

This is the book that I truly should have delved into many years ago. I received it way back in 1966, and if I had read it then, I would have had a better understanding of the background of Hemingway's life before exploring his remarkable work. However, at that time, it is likely that I wouldn't have been able to fully comprehend its depth.

Over the years, I have had the pleasure of reading most of Papa's novels and short stories. Hotchner's detailed account of his long and meaningful friendship with Hemingway has been a revelation. It has answered numerous questions that I had about this heroic yet ultimately tragic literary figure.

I remember being told once by a high school teacher that I read too much Hemingway. Fifty years have passed since then, and I still remain unyielding in my love and admiration for his works.

This book has added a new layer of understanding to my perception of Hemingway, and I am grateful to have finally discovered it.

A beautiful, haunting, and glorious book awaits the reader, one that delves into the life of a literary goliath and his truest friend. This remarkable work takes us on a journey through the complex and fascinating relationship between these two individuals. The author's prose is both lyrical and powerful, painting a vivid picture of their world and the emotions that bind them.

What a great, great book this is. It has the ability to transport the reader to another time and place, to make them feel as if they are a part of the story. The characters are so well-developed that they seem to leap off the page, and the plot is engaging and full of surprises.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves literature, friendship, and the power of the written word. It will stay with you long after you have turned the last page, leaving you with a sense of wonder and a new appreciation for the beauty and complexity of human relationships.

I firmly believe that this is truly a 4.5-star book, yet I chose to round it up to 5.

Recently, I had the pleasure of watching the PBS 2-part documentary on Hemingway. Subsequently, I discovered this book among my personal collection and decided to give it a read.

To my great surprise, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. It was incredibly fascinating to explore Hemingway's last 14 years, which were increasingly challenging, from the perspective of a person who had become a very dear friend.

This book is neither a traditional biography nor a memoir. Instead, it offers a vivid picture of a friendship and of a man who simply could not envision a life without the ability to write.

Moreover, this book contains insights that were not presented in the documentary. For instance, it reveals that his alcoholism was, at least in part, a consequence of his attempt to control pain.

In conclusion, if Hemingway intrigues you in any way, this is most definitely a book worth reading. It provides a unique and intimate look into the life and mind of this literary giant.

“Hotch, if I can’t exist on my own terms, then existence is impossible. Do you understand? That is how I’ve lived, and that is how I must live—or not live.”

Back and forth, Amazon tries with great success to sell me Kindle books for 10 kroner. And more than once, I've made poor reading decisions precisely because of that. However, it has picked up dramatically over time. This one lay around for a long time to become one of them. As in all other stories about Hemingway, there is a lot of glorification of behavior that we fortunately no longer accept today. But more than anything, it is a deep dive into the emotional rollercoaster that Hemingway rode. Hemingway likely struggled with an undiagnosed bipolar disorder for much of his life until he committed suicide in 1961. Through this book, one can see a lot of the process that led to that act from the perspective of one of his closest, and it is also a gloomy reminder of the consequences that stigmatization around mental health help can have.

There seems to be a bit of name-dropping going on here, but it's still a worthy journey into the life of an interesting human.

The biography is well-written, captivating the reader from the very beginning.

It delves into the various aspects of the subject's life, including their achievements, challenges, and personal growth.

The author has done a great job of presenting the information in an engaging and accessible way, making it easy for the reader to follow along.

Despite the name-dropping, which some may find off-putting, the overall narrative is strong and provides valuable insights into the life of this fascinating individual.

Whether you're interested in learning more about the subject or simply enjoy a well-written biography, this book is definitely worth a read.

It offers a unique perspective on the human experience and is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Hemingway was a remarkable individual for whom strength, "maleness," and the gift of writing were of utmost significance.

I firmly believe that Hotchner accomplished an excellent task in depicting the man, his personality, and the elements that contributed to his ultimate fate.

It is a tragic narrative, yet it is replete with the grandeur of Hemingway's character and the manner in which he led his life.

The story not only展现了 his flaws and struggles but also his unwavering determination and passion.

I found it to be a captivating and thought-provoking account that provided valuable insights into the complex nature of this literary icon.

Overall, I truly liked it and would highly recommend it to others interested in learning more about Hemingway.