ARC: Hemingway In Love: his own story ~ A.E. Hotchner

IT IS FINALLY OUT IN STORES!!!!

Ernest Hemingway always held a few of his best stories back; kept them off the page as writer's insurance against a dry-up of ideas. But after surviving two back-to-back plane crashes, he resolved to share his most meaningful tale with his best friend, A.E. Hotchner. Over the course of almost a decade, Hemingway narrated the full story of his formative years, but the details were sensitive, apt to hurt the feelings of Ernest's wide, Mary, and arouse controversy among the involved parties who were still alive at the time. For half a century, Hotchner was obliged to keep these conversations to himself. Now, he tells the story as Hemingway told it to him. Hemingway in Love is the poignant and frank account of a legend living with his mistakes. It takes you from the Key West to the bohemian world of 1920s Paris, and from Cold War Cuba to bullfights in Spain. It places you across the table from Hemingway himself as he recalls days spent drinking with Fitzgerald and sparring with Gertrude Stein; as he reflects on the affair that destroyed his first marriage. This is the story of how Hemingway lost his great love, and the life he pursued after - one of sweeping adventure and quiet regret. 

Book Discussion: Spoilers

I posted my review on this a few weeks ago but not that the book is in stores I thought that it would be a good time for me to post a discussion. 

A.E. Hotchner was best friends with the late literary legend known as Ernest Hemingway. He previously wrote Papa Hemingway, which I have not read (do not yell at me)! In this story though he tells us things that he could not tells us in his previous memoir on Hemingway. 

He wanted to keep certain things out of the public eye while Hemingway's 3rd wife Mary was still alive and while other parties involved were still alive. This is because the story is about Hemingway's first love and first wife, Hadley, and how he always regretted having the affair that ended their marriage. Many intimate details were revealed on his marriage with Hadley and how he felt about her. The arguments and ultimate demise of his relationship with his second wife Pauline is revealed, as well as how it affected his relationship with his 2nd and 3rd sons. We also see snippets of his relationship with his last wife, the one that was with him until the end, Mary. 

Many details were revealed about Hemingway's depression and paranoia which eventually led to his tragic suicide. We also learn about his institutionalization as well.