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bhnmt61 's review for:
Hemingway in Love: His Own Story
by A.E. Hotchner
Although I've admired much of Hemingway's work, no one would argue he was an easy person to live with or even be friends with. Based on the previews of this book, I thought maybe it would introduce me to a different side of the man, someone I could feel a bit of sympathy for. If that was the author's intent, it didn't work.
If anything, it only reinforced my opinions. Hemingway cheated--blatantly-- on Hadley, his first wife. When she was willing to let that go if he would give up the other woman, he refused. He says he regretted that for the rest of his life, but it's hard to feel much sympathy when he blames it all on the scheming other woman--who became his second wife even though he says he didn't want to marry her. And that's not even all of it. At some point in the litany of excuses and rationalizations I quit trying to like the man. He was a great writer, and maybe in the end, that will be all that counts.
I'm still giving it three stars, though, because it is absorbing and well-written. It's a short, easy read, and fascinating if not likable. The final little barb at the end is that the author says he waited decades to publish this because he didn't want to hurt the feelings of Hemingway's fourth and final wife, but then he closes the book by saying he's always wished that he could find a woman to love the way Hemingway loved Hadley-- even though he is married and she is still living. Maybe he should have worried a bit about the feelings of his own wife.
If anything, it only reinforced my opinions. Hemingway cheated--blatantly-- on Hadley, his first wife. When she was willing to let that go if he would give up the other woman, he refused. He says he regretted that for the rest of his life, but it's hard to feel much sympathy when he blames it all on the scheming other woman--who became his second wife even though he says he didn't want to marry her. And that's not even all of it. At some point in the litany of excuses and rationalizations I quit trying to like the man. He was a great writer, and maybe in the end, that will be all that counts.
I'm still giving it three stars, though, because it is absorbing and well-written. It's a short, easy read, and fascinating if not likable. The final little barb at the end is that the author says he waited decades to publish this because he didn't want to hurt the feelings of Hemingway's fourth and final wife, but then he closes the book by saying he's always wished that he could find a woman to love the way Hemingway loved Hadley-- even though he is married and she is still living. Maybe he should have worried a bit about the feelings of his own wife.