Hemingway's Key West

by Stuart B. McIver

This vivid portrait reveals both Hemingway, the writer, and Hemingway, the hard-drinking, woman-chasing fighter and sportsman of legend. Hemingway's decade in Key West during the 1930s was his most productive. His only book set in the U.S., To Have and Have Not, takes place there. Meet his circle of friends (known as "the Mob"), his second wife, Pauline, and their two children. Hear from Hemingway contemporaries and scholars about the man and the town that he made famous. This edition includes a record of the author's exploits in Bimini and Cuba. Accompany Hemingway on fishing expeditions in the Gulf Stream and to Cuba and Bimini aboard his custom-built boat, Pilar. Learn of his doomed love affairs, his patriotic activities during World War II, and his writing experiences in an old farmhouse in Cuba.

Filled with photos (some of which were not available in the first edition), this book also includes a two-hour walking tour of Key West and a tour of Hemingway's favorite Cuban haunts. A treat for Hemingway fans!

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Travel, History, Audiobook

174 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

Reviews

[Anilou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Papa's Digs

Of all the books I could have chosen to shed light on one of the greatest American novelists, this was everything I hoped it would be. I'm deep into a collection of Hemingway's short stories, and this book shed light on its complicated author, his genius and insanity, his courage, his many loves, and his way of tackling life head on. Hemingway was hard living and a heavy drinker and shed one wife only to remarry in short order. On my list of vacation destinations, his Key West home is at the top. This book will surely enhance my experience. I look forward to meeting the latest generation of his six-toed cats as well. I am so happy to have read this beautifully written story, told without judgment but with a good deal of admiration for his contributions to the world of writing.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading about Hemingway more than I like reading Hemingway. And the more I read about him, the less I like him as a person. He was a bully, a womanizer, a poor sport. But he could write,
and he wrote in Key West.

And I really like Key West. My wife and I honeymooned there.
Reading this book was fun because I got to revisit old stomping grounds.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a thumb-nail sketch of Papa in Key West. And it gives a decent walking tour of the city. Whether you like Hemingway or not, the truth is that
Papa could live without Key West, but Key West could not live without Papa. His spirit permeates the island.

[Sarah Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read. Dug the walking tour chapter. It’s more like several essays than a book that flows but it was a fun read to prepare for a trip to Key West.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read if you are traveling to Key West, Bimini or Cuba and are a Hemingway fan.
There were a few inconsistencies that I found but it also had a lot of relevant information.

[E.C. Frey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and engaging read. Hemingway's words are legendary as is his reputation, but this book offers a glimpse into what made the man tick. His suicide is often attributed to his bouts of depression and his "writerly" life. Knowing what we know now about head trauma, his numerous and severe concussions are highlighted in this book and showed me another side to the story.

[Gary Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful, amusing and a trip down memory lane to my first trip to The States. Key West is magical.

[Lynn Pines · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always really enjoy reading about "Papa", but this was a little disappointing in that it was very repetitive from chapter to chapter. Sorry Mr. McIver, but just not page turning:(

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this is very repetitious. Admittedly, there is an interesting overview not only of Ernest Hemingway but of Key West itself along with how it realized that using Hemingway's notority would help the economy via tourism. Apparently, "Papa" was highly competitive with other writers so his most trusted and comfortable of friends - especially in Key West - were his hunting, fishing, and drinking buddies.

HEmingway's final days in Key West - before his move to Cuba - were tense due to many of the locals allied with his soon-to-be ex-wife rather than Ernest. Then there is descriptions of his home in Cuba as well as his activities during World War II as well as the FBI's suspicions that he was a Communist. And his eventual death by suicide in Idaho.

There is several sections about the activities that occur today in Key West from the museums and the festivals with the hats and shirts and look-alike contests. The walking tour of Key West is discussed along with a map with notes on the highlights and importance. I.E. 'This is where such-and-such was located. Let's review what I told you earlier.' The writer does the same with the Hemingway Trail in Cuba only without the map and just as repetitious.

There's some talk about the his passion for fishing as well as several black and white pictures that are grainy when enlarged from an ebook version. And it finishes up with the author's own attempt at the look-alike contest and then other books available from the same publisher regarding similar subjects. Would have liked to hear more about the six-toed cats but they are only mentioned in regards to a large trough he carried home for his cats use.

Overall disappointing but did provide some very general overview of the personality of Ernest Hemingway. Did I say it was repetitious? *grin*


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[Rudolf Waldner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was terrific! Even though I'd been to Key West before and seen many of the Hemingway haunts, this book took me back and shared new insights. I enjoyed the back stories about the author and his crew. I enjoyed the suggested walking tour. In short, because of the perspective presented in the book by Mr. McIver, I'll be returning to Key West sooner than later, even though I've been there more than a few times before.


Rudolf J Waldner
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Marketing from the Trenches: Your Guide to Retail Success

[Patty Gilson l · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Hemingway and his connection to Key West, you will enjoy this book.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody at my mom’s apartment left two boxes of books for free by her elevator in the garage. Of course, I couldn’t resist taking some and this was one of them.

Hemingway led a very interesting life, had a great variety of interesting friends and enemies, traveled a great deal, but had his shortcomings like any other person. Spent a lot of money too. The island life and adventures remind me of Randy Wayne White and his Doc Ford books.

The book is an excellent history of Key West and a picture of island life in the 30’s, right after WWI and during the Depression. Chapter 13 is a guide for a 2-hour walking tour of interesting parts of Key West that are related to Hemingway.

Fave parts: the story of the sailfish, the contrast between Hemingway’s dislike of tourism & Julius Stone’s use of it to save Key West and the Conch Republic.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so much more than a guide with a walking tour of Hemingway sites in Key West. The book is replete with Hemingway anecdotes and history including his time in Key West, Bimini, and Cuba. Many of the stories told here comprise a big part of the tour at the Hemingway House in Key West. Readers will have a richer appreciation of Hem’s influence on KW as well as KW’s influence on Hemingway. Really a fun, well-written book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. I look forward to using the walking tour.

Quotable:

“Sun and sea air, as they dry your body, make for almost effortless beer consumption. The body needs liquid of a nourishing kind. The palate craves coolness. The optic nerve delights in the sensation of chill that comes from its nearness to the palate as you swallow. Then the skin suddenly blossoms with thousands of happy beads of perspiration as you quaff.” -Ernest Hemingway

[Randal Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a nice easy read to learn about both Ernest Hemingway and his role in the history of the Florida Keys and Key West this is a nice one for that. You will also find a great walking tour of the Hemingway high points of Key West and some information about Cuba and Bimini as well. I would say it is an excellent source for learning the basics of Ernest Hemingway and a little bit about the destinations too.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a prelude to our vacation to Key West , this was the perfect read. Each chapter is an essay on various topics related to Hemingway and his relationship with Key West . It is an insider's review of this Southern paradise . There are so many must see places . I can only encourage readers to enjoy any of Ernest Hemingway novels as well.

[Mike Prochot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Assorted facts, fables and yarns about E. Hemingway in Key West. Worth a read if you are new to Key West and slept during literature class and are wondering what all the hubbub is about the guy with the beard.

Nothing new here, but the walking tour suggested is kind of fun to check out.

[Andy Kristensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to Hemingway's time in Key West. The chapters are a little scattered and lots of major information is repeated throughout various chapters, but the information provided is both very interesting and informative.

[Jacqui H. Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better documentaries I've read of Hemingway's history with Key West. Interesting, like you're reading a novel about a colorful character rather than a biographical article. Stuart McIver is a gifted and knowledgeable author of several books on historical Florida.

[Allen Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are visiting Key West and want to experience it through the lens of Hemingway this book is a good place to start. It’s no Pulitzer writing and sometimes jumps around a bit but if gives a decent synopsis of the famous man’s Key West days and places.

[Sean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok story of EH and key west. A lot of repetition of facts and padding by the author with chapters on Bimini and Cuba and the authors experience in a Hemingway look alike contest. Those chapters read like recycled magazine articles.

[Karina Henson · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting short biography of hemingway’s time in key west. i think it captures the different and even unsavory elements of his life and legacy. and despite these you can’t help but admire hemingway for his “bacchanalian joy of living”

[Mimi Boozehammer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but highly repetitive.

[Bonita Risley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this while sitting on the top deck of a houseboat in Key West - wonderful, its the only place to read it.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely repetitive and in no particular order.

[Raoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This turned out to be a good walking guide within Key West even though outdated on prices. Most of the information corroborated on an old town tour and tour within the Hemingway House.

[Kat B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of my preparations for a trip to Key West and Havana later this year. It was OK. It’s a quick, easy read, but it is also repetitive and feels padded.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting facts on Hemingway, but I found the material presented in a somewhat disjointed manner. I also found the narrator’s presentation of the material unappealing.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good photos and a couple interesting stories.

[Lucretia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was only somewhat interesting to me as I hadn't thought much about Hemingway for a long time. It was a snapshot of a portion of the author's life.

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focuses on Hemingway’s life in Key West and how it influenced his writing.