Key West Tales

by John Hersey

Alternating a tale of the past that has become a part of Key West legend with a contemporary story that reflects the pulse of life there today, Hersey weaves in these stories a brilliant human tapestry of the place that means a great deal to him. From the author of A Bell For Adano and Hiroshima comes this final collections of stories.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Travel

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

John Richard Hersey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer, earliest practiced the "new journalism," which fuses storytelling devices of the novel with nonfiction reportage. A 36-member panel under the aegis of journalism department of New York University adjudged account of Hersey of the aftermath of the atomic bomb, dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, as the finest piece of journalism of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first "tale" made this book worth it

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these character-full stories of the interactions of the inhabitants of the bohemian island of Key West. I'm a big fan of the place myself, and this book brings it to life, just as I always thought it would be. Makes me want to learn to sail and relocate.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine collection of stories. I agree with other reviews that the first story makes reading the whole book worth the time.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first novella is astonishingly good, which itself was five star, and i was a fan of most of the current-day stories, in particular, the one of the mother's reunion with her son on Halloween, as well as the retiring navy man and the writing prompt story of the wedding dress.

Oddly, given the strength of Hersey with both fiction and non-fiction, as well as fictionalization of historical subjects, his vignettes of historical characters in historical Key West were kind of flat. They were also much, much shorter than the fictional pieces set in contemporary KW so that they were maybe meant to be impressionistic, or in the case of the Audubon one, commentary, but they didn't modulate well with the longer, more nuanced fictional pieces. (Also, where was Tennessee Williams?)

Still worth reading, tho, especially if you love Key West, in which case, it's required reading.

[Peter Waack · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bunch of short stories, most of them mediocre. I enjoyed the historical stories that were in between the short stories the most. If you find yourself with a copy, the first and last story was the best. Took me forever to finish, but I always finish books I start. This one was tough to do, looking forward to a new book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are written for the book. Between each story, as well as opening and closing the book, are short historical vignettes from the island's history. The stories are solidly written, but I don't know that I got a sense of Key West from them as much as I did from the vignettes.

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those books that does not tell a story as such---more a partial glimpse into people of that area. Not really "my cup of tea".

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of the stories were pretty good... most were just ok.

[Kristin Hellmich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short stories and tales of Key West.

[Marjorie Cavalier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, especially if you took one of the literary tours while visiting Key West.

[Robert C Mayho · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the last published works by Hersey, this collection of short stories with a Key West theme is decidedly varied in quality. The longer stories are interspersed with short profiles of famous Key West residents and characters, like Harry Truman, John James Audubon and, of course, Ernest Hemingway. But these are the most frustrating pieces in the book, because they all leave the reader wanting more. Were it not for the excellent AIDS-themed story "Get Up, Sweet Slug-a Bed", this collection would be much the worse.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this volume on the shelf at the Santa Monica Public Library and decided to pick it up on a whim. John Hersey's fame rests primarily on two novels, Hiroshima and A Bell for Adano, both of which are irretrievably associated with WW2, and neither of which I had read. I've always had a thing for Key West -- certainly not because of the gay subculture -- just because it was a Land's End kind of place, somewhat like Los Angeles, where I live now.

Key West Tales is Hersey's last published book and only his second collection of short stories. This is probably not the best book to start reading Hersey, because it shows him to be a writer in a minor key who has, sadly, outlived his place in the sun. It made me sad because it made me realize that my own place in the sun has passed some years ago, and what will be written tomorrow -- if anything is written at all -- will be by someone who Tweets and Facebooks and iPads. Perhaps the literature of tomorrow will be written to be read on a smart phone screen.

There is nothing wrong with the stories, except for a kind of twilight sense of lives slowly coming undone. In between the longer stories are little historical sketches typeset all in Italic which, with a couple of exceptions, such as the piece on Harry S Truman, are forgettable. Probably the best story in the bunch is also the longest, "Get Up, Sweet Slug-A-Bed," about a gay academic dying of AIDS and having issues with his care-givers.

If there is world enough and time, I might tackle another Hersey book at some point, but I would have to feel very motivated.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book of stories by the author of HIROSHIMA that mingles past and present. Key West literature has always been an interesting if ill-defined genre of regional literature; less menacing than LA but more rollicking than Chicago, it's been a metaphor of immigration and miscegenation, terrorism and revolution, popular fiction and literature. Somehow Hersey manages to take this whole history in. The longer stories involve early 1990s issues relevant to the island---most notably AIDS. The shorter interchapters involve historical figures, including early salvaging magnate Asa Tift and, of course, Ernest Hemingway (who bought Tift's house). (Hersey borrows the interchapter technique from EH's In Our Time ). The stories' poignancy is amplified by the knowledge that the author died just a year before this book was published.

[Carlos Mock · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book by the late John Hersey. It is fifteen short stories that all have a common theme of Key West either in the present or sometime in the past.

You will find a fiery preacher whose primary unholy occupation creaps into his Sunday sermon. An aging papa Hemingway slogging it out with the tourists, a young man who proposes to meet his long lost blood mother during the bacchanal of Fantasy Fest-with both of them in disguise.

All of these stories are mediocre and quite boring; however, in the book there is a gem called "Get up, Sweet Slug-a-bed". It deals with the guilt feelings of those who care for AIDS patients during the 90's epidemic, their friends, and the patients themselves. It is one of the best AIDS stories I've ever read and should be required reading for any self-respecting GLBT person.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Get Up, Sweet Slug-A-Bed" should be on short-story reading lists for students. The story of a man dying of AIDS and those who take care of him -- or don't -- is part mystery, part suspense, but still within the context of a domestic drama. Also, the passing years has only made the situations more poignant. The rest of the stories switch between typical a-point-in-the-life of late 1980s or early 1990s characters and tales of Key West's past, as if to show that the island may have its specific dramas due to its place in the world, but that no matter the exotic location, humans always deal with the same issues, large and small.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever mix of stories about Old Key West and Modern Key West, going back to the days when the town was a remote outpost and controlled by the Union Navy during the Civil War. This is the last collection of Hersey's stories before he died in 1993.

For those interested in Hersey's writing, his "Hiroshima" is a classic that will be more widely read in 25 years than it is today. It was the first reporting to chronicle the damage to Hiroshima after the first nuclear bombing, and was judged the finest piece of American journalism of the 20th century by a panel associated with New York University's journalism department.

[Kris Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

read this book while in key west on vacation. short stories in this book took place in key west. all stories were just ok. stories all boring which is not key west! the stories didnt include any approximate dates which i would have liked to put stories in island timeline. i learned some history and traditions from stories but not much. key west has so many traditions and rich history stories could have been better. skip reading this book and just go to key west!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because this author won a Pulitzer prize I guess I am supposed to enjoy these short stories, they are interesting, but I would like to have the whole story. These tales are like a dip into the middle of a longer book.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think I've read anything by him since Hiroshima long ago, but I remember his compelling prose from that and gave this a try. Very interesting, if a little uneven. Never been to Key West, so maybe I couldn't appreciate the nuances, but some good stories for sure.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gems, every one. Would that Mr. Hersey could've lived and written on forever.

"Cuba Libre" is probably the best here - fun, rollicking and pointedly concluded - but there's nothing bad. A delightful collection, unreservedly recommended.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of short stories that relay the culture and atmosphere of Key West through the ages. Loved the piece on Hemmingway, of course, as well as a short piece on Harry Truman at his "Little White House". There is one about Pulitzer Prize winners playing a game of anagrams that is also fun.

[ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this before I went to visit Key West, but actually the stories are better AFTER you've been there for several days. My favorites were "A Game of Anagrams," "Amends," and "A Little Paperwork." They caught the personality of Key West and its characters!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK so I didn't know Hersey had written Key West stories... All very good, I enjoyed them. He alternates between stories in the present and stories about characters in the past: true characters who played a part in KW history (Hemingway, Truman, Audubon, etc.) They all ring true.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales taking place in Key West from various time periods. The author is an acoomplished writer so most were enjoyable and captured the flavor of the island.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few of the stories were bland, but overall I liked the book.
Recommend that you have been to the Keys BEFORE reading the book. It will mean so much more to you if you do.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another author you should read. These tales were a good mix of older and newer stories from an excellent writer. He created good images of Key West.

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I wanted to drink in the atmosphere of Key West, but that atmosphere is the mixer in this cocktail and not the part that packs a punch. What Hersey is really pouring for us to sip is the taste of personality: usually men, occasionally women, who react to challenges with confusion, wishful thinking, hypocrisy, and well-meaning mistakes. I had no idea that the author of Hiroshima could write such beautiful miniatures.