Reviewer Michelle Kaye Malsbury:
Michelle was born in Champaign, IL. Currently, she resides in Asheville, NC
and is in her second year of doctoral studies at Nova Southeastern
University in Ft. Lauderdale with specialization/concentration in
conflict resolution and peace studies. She has over six hundred
articles published on the web and one book published thus far with
many more in the wings. Hobbies include; reading, writing, music, and
playing with her Australian Cattle Dog, Abu.
Authors: Sandra Spanierand Miriam B. Mandel
Authors: Sandra Spanierand Miriam B. Mandel
Miriam B. Mandel, co-author of The Letters Of Ernest Hemingway 1932-1934, lectures on the topics of American Culture and English at the University of Tel-Aviv. (2020, inside back cover).
She served as associate editor on the fourth volume of these letters. She has written and published numerous books and essays. Mandel is also a member of the review board for the Hemingway Review.
This book is laid out like a thesis in that it begins with a couple of introductions from each author and then moves into a chronology of each letter contained herein. There are maps with labels to designate where Ernest Hemingway was at any given time. The letters are uncorrected and supply the reader with a great amount of insight into the man and not simply the writer. He pokes fun, takes a dogged stance, cajoles, and shows his true depth of friendship in these poignant and endearing letters to friends, family, and publishers of his books and other periodicals. There are also cables he sent and received during that two year time frame that is included in this volume.
For instance the below excerpt is from a letter to his friend Ezra Pound on February 2nd, of 1932 from his home in Key West, Florida. He begins: (2020, p.39)
“ Dear Ezra:--
Thanks for the Genoa paper. Damned funny about the beard on V.E. ReD’Italia—When I wrote that damned book I could see him with a tuft on that chin but it must be just that place for the beard is so clearly indicated—will change it to chin…”
In another he says letter written to Henry Strater on June 10th, 1932 he says: (2020, p.138)
“Dear Mike:--
How would you feel about going out to Africa next June instead of this end of August? Personally I hate to be away from the country that long this fall the way things are going—If they inflate or do something else we may have to act damned quickly—”
A witty letter to his friend Jane Mason written on November 12th, 2932 says: (2020, p.267)
“So now it is November 12th and Yale 7-0 over Princeton in the 3rd quarter—An your old friend Poor Old Papa ¾ on a bottle of Scotch—
How is David—(Notre Dame 21 – Northwestern 0) 3rd quarter if it means anything to you—It doesn’t to me—”
Ernest Hemingway is one of my favorite authors of all time and I so enjoyed reading these letters to his friends and family. This is a must read for fans of Hemingway or anyone for that matter.