What do you think?
Hemingway In Cuba
From 1939 to 1960, Ernest Hemingway made Cuba home to his life and work. Upon winning the Nobel Prize, he pronounced himself a "Cubano Sato"—garden variety Cuban—and gave the award to the Cuban people. To this day the Cubans revere "Ernesto," and the country that Hemingway loved remains unchanged in its character and beauty.
Hemingway in Cuba is at once a literary journey for Hemingway aficionados and a rich companion to Papa’s time in Cuba and in neighboring Bimini and Key West. Hilary Hemingway gives new insight into her uncle’s life in Cuba, relating tales of his renowned passion for big game fishing, the women who competed for his affection, and the people who came to inhabit novels such as To Have and Have Not and Islands in the Stream. Readers of Hemingway will recognize Cojimar, the small fishing village featured in his best-known work, The Old Man and the Sea, as one example of how Cuba left an indelible mark on his work.
In the care of Cuban curators since his death in 1961, Hemingway’s home in Cuba holds a trove of letters, books, and other documents vital to Hemingway scholarship. Hemingway in Cuba features revelations from the curators’ ongoing research at Finca Vigía, as well as details of the Hemingway Project, a historical collaborative agreement that allows select American scholars to examine this cache of Hemingway papers for the first time. Accompanied by 160 archival and contemporary photographs, Hemingway in Cuba is a must-have for the Hemingway enthusiast.
Hemingway in Cuba is at once a literary journey for Hemingway aficionados and a rich companion to Papa’s time in Cuba and in neighboring Bimini and Key West. Hilary Hemingway gives new insight into her uncle’s life in Cuba, relating tales of his renowned passion for big game fishing, the women who competed for his affection, and the people who came to inhabit novels such as To Have and Have Not and Islands in the Stream. Readers of Hemingway will recognize Cojimar, the small fishing village featured in his best-known work, The Old Man and the Sea, as one example of how Cuba left an indelible mark on his work.
In the care of Cuban curators since his death in 1961, Hemingway’s home in Cuba holds a trove of letters, books, and other documents vital to Hemingway scholarship. Hemingway in Cuba features revelations from the curators’ ongoing research at Finca Vigía, as well as details of the Hemingway Project, a historical collaborative agreement that allows select American scholars to examine this cache of Hemingway papers for the first time. Accompanied by 160 archival and contemporary photographs, Hemingway in Cuba is a must-have for the Hemingway enthusiast.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 17, 2021
Not intended as an in-depth biography, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable read put together by Ernest Hemingway's niece (his brother Leicester's daughter) Hilary Hemingway, and Carlene Brennen, an editor and publisher.
The fishing stories are mesmerizing and Ernest's brilliant way with words shines through most of the related conversations (although he does "growl" maybe once too often). In Chapter 11, the encounter with a shark who is blown up by swallowing a grenade lobbed into his mouth had to have inspired the much later "Jaws."
Real life events and people that influenced and later appeared in specific writings are connected throughout the book.
Perhaps the most fascinating chapter is "Castro and Hemingway" wherein Castro provides his thoughts and opinions on Ernest, the man and the writer, a man whom he met just once.
Photographs and anecdotes are plentiful, and this publication will be a welcome addition to anyone's Hemingway library.
The fishing stories are mesmerizing and Ernest's brilliant way with words shines through most of the related conversations (although he does "growl" maybe once too often). In Chapter 11, the encounter with a shark who is blown up by swallowing a grenade lobbed into his mouth had to have inspired the much later "Jaws."
Real life events and people that influenced and later appeared in specific writings are connected throughout the book.
Perhaps the most fascinating chapter is "Castro and Hemingway" wherein Castro provides his thoughts and opinions on Ernest, the man and the writer, a man whom he met just once.
Photographs and anecdotes are plentiful, and this publication will be a welcome addition to anyone's Hemingway library.
September 14, 2008
A must read for Hemingway lovers. The photographs, maps and visual material is the strongest part of the book. The stories and text while well written do not all cohesively blend in the whole. The chronology is at time disjointed.
Still a fascinating if esoteric view of a small portion of Papa's life.
Still a fascinating if esoteric view of a small portion of Papa's life.
February 1, 2011
Got this coffee table book on sale, just out of curiosity. Hemingway lived up to his legend-for good and bad, and this is a chronicle of the man at his peak, living in Cuba and winning the Nobel Prize for literature. Amazing stories and photos, chronicling everything from his deep sea fishing to his pursuit of Nazi subs off Cuba. Seriously.
July 8, 2021
A lovely edition and a top notch history. Amazing photographs.
A must for any Hemingway fan.
A must for any Hemingway fan.
June 9, 2015
Episodic coffee table book captures look and feel of old Cuba in telling the stories of Hemingway's time in Cuba in the 1930 through the 1950s. Rich thick paper and beautiful black and white photographs are surrounded by short accounts of key events written by Hemingway's niece.
Interesting sidelight is that Hemingway's home of two decades in the outskirts of Havana was given to Cuban government in 1961 by his last widow (this book speaks of four wives and at least two separate affairs) and is maintained exactly as it was left, complete with Hemingway's personal belongings, furniture, thousands of letters and photograph, and his 9,000-book library, many with personal notes in the margins.
Interesting sidelight is that Hemingway's home of two decades in the outskirts of Havana was given to Cuban government in 1961 by his last widow (this book speaks of four wives and at least two separate affairs) and is maintained exactly as it was left, complete with Hemingway's personal belongings, furniture, thousands of letters and photograph, and his 9,000-book library, many with personal notes in the margins.
May 31, 2008
Anyone with a sense of adventure would enjoy this book.
December 6, 2014
With this book in my lap and a rum & coconut water in my hand I thought I was hanging with Ernesto at times. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews