Ernest Hemingway

He expresses deep gratitude for the Connables’ hospitality: “You were awfully good to me […] the priceless time I had”, while at the same time revealing his characteristic restlessness and desire for experience. In particularly striking passages, Hemingway outlines plans to ship out as a seaman and travel to the Far East: “We will make 70 seeds a month and should hit Yokohama with quite a little money […] I am going to try and sign on as a stoker […] I’m getting my passport for China, Japan and India”. These remarks offer a remarkable early glimpse of the adventurous impulse that would later shape both his life and literary identity. Equally notable is the emotional warmth of the letter, reflecting the profound personal bond between Hemingway and the Connable family, whose support proved instrumental at this formative stage: “I miss Toronto and you and Mr. Connable and Dorothy and Ralph a lot […] the very nicest people I have ever known”. The tone combines sincerity, humour, and self-awareness, culminating in the disarming admission: “This letter is too long I know”. The present letter is accompanied by the original envelope, addressed in Hemingway’s hand, and further annotated by Ralph Connable Jr., adding an additional layer of historical immediacy. Harriet Connable had brought Hemingway to Toronto in 1919 and facilitated his work for the Toronto Star, thereby playing a crucial role in his transition from aspiring writer to professional journalist. Letters of this early period—particularly those documenting his relationship with the Connables—are of considerable rarity and importance. A highly attractive and unusually substantial early Hemingway letter, rich in autobiographical content and offering a rare insight into the formative experiences and ambitions of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers..

Ordóñez met a number of writers and actors, and he also starred in a few films. Antonio was a long time friend of Ernest Hemingway, whom he called Father Ernesto. Hemingway wrote an account of Ordóñez's rivalry with the matador Luis Miguel Dominguín (also Ordóñez's brother-in-law) titled The Dangerous Summer..

Antonio was a long time friend of Ernest Hemingway, whom he called Father Ernesto. Hemingway wrote an account of Ordóñez's rivalry with the matador Luis Miguel Dominguín (also Ordóñez's brother-in-law) titled The Dangerous Summer..

Hemingway then gives news of his sons, and mentions his youngest son ("Gig"), who, in his early twenties, was turning violently hostile to his father: "I am sorry I spoke against Gig since he is a friend of yours and used to be of mine as well as my favorite son. But he changed very strange very fast. As bad as though the devil was managing him. I couldn't ever see him again; not even to go and see him hanged. But if he seems good to you, O.K. I haven't heard from him since last November when he came of age [...]" (Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, May 12, 1953). - II: Written from his sickbed. Preparations were still being made for the film mentioned above, and Hemingway had spent September trying to get actions shots of leaping marlins for the producer Leland Hayward. Apparently, too, Hemingway was making an effort to get Brown involved in getting Spencer Tracy in shape, for he writes: "I am very sorry about [Peter] Viertel [wrote the screenplay] behaving so carelessly. He is a very selfish boy but I think he has a little bit of an excuse in that he was with Zinneman[n] on the script and was expecting you out there. While Zinneman[n] was down here we discussed the whole thing about your getting Spencer in shape and agreed it was absolutely necessary and we spoke about it again on the long distance phone […]" (ibid., November 25, 1955; with several autograph lines in pencil)..