EH always struck me as being the same as the principal male character in his writings. Somewhat aloof, a hard drinker & womanizer and very hard on the few friends that he had. His life and thoughts were, for the most part, contained within himself and very seldom did he allow others to see the true EH. JMHO

George

Hem was a self made creation. He taught us who he either was, or decided he wanted to be. He was also "full of himself", something that makes him seem borish today. In his day a man's man was accepted, sadly not so much in the modern era.

Did he keep his real self secret? I don't think he had much to hide. He wasn't for instance, a closet gay, or cross dressor (as was one of his sons). I do think he was a braggart and demanded that his friends genuflect before his throne.

Would he be fun to partner with on a hunt? Only if one loved and admired him. Since I don't, I think the outing would be problematic. I think Ruark would have been easier to get along with while on safari. Not sure I could handle his bush martini's tho...warm gin served in a plastic cup....with lunch.

Steve:
Whoever Hemingway "was," he was certainly a man of importance, as this thread testifies. And a damn good writer. Ruark, on the other hand, fancied himself a bush league Hemingway -- but never quite lived up to Papa's towering image.
Nonetheless, warm gin is better than no gin. Cup composition aside.

Best, Kensal

Yes indeed Hem lived a larger than life, life. So, but to a lessor extent, did Ruark. I agree that Ruark felt as if he lived and worked in Hem's shadow and one seldom considers him without comparing him to EH. Last year and for the third time I re-read most of what both men wrote. I found Hem somewhat dated and Ruark not so much. Some, IMHO of Hem's work is unreadable, Death In the Afternoon being one that I have never been able to dig through. Nor have I been able to stick with Ruark's The Honey Badger.

Ruark's best is Something of Value and I love the work. Hem's early books I read for their style, the stories IMHO hackneyed. My fave Hem book is one of his least important, A Moveable Feast which has been published in several versions....the latest is the best.

I think that both men were great writers and maybe great men. Hem is unique and people will be reading about him for a lot time to come. Stephen Crane was a better writer than either tho. So was Fitzgerald when in his prime.

Of all of the men's men who many of use enjoy considering and reading about my very favorite is the Englishmen, Sir Richard Burton....not the movie star; the other one. He is not very well known today, but in his time he was. Neither Speak nor Stanley were slouches either. Some think Stanley was an American (He fought and was wounded at Shiloh), but he was not. He was an orphaned English runaway.

The Devil Drives tells us about Burton. Quite an amazing story.

I think that we should remember that great men are but men and have the same failings as do we all. Hemingway's stories inspired me to write many decades ago and for that I am thankful. If I had known him personally I may not have respected him. If I were however I bigger man I would have forgave him his shortcomings.

I am a bit of a writer too and I have also been influenced by HEM. I like the "no guts, no glory" persona of the man. I have often wondered if I'd like to be around HEM. To this day, I don't know if I would or not.

But really now, wouldn't it have been fun to run around in the Carib with a couple of Tommy Guns hunting for UBoats? Might dabble in some fishing too.

Pappy Boyington's book Ba Ba Blacksheep inspired me to join the Corps to become a fighter pilot and I actually did become a member of VMA 214! (VMFA today).

Ernest Hemingway's Birthday July 21 1898. Hapy birthday Ernest.
David

Hhttp://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/P1010576.jpgEM's model 12 looked something like this:

His gun was made in 1928. Mine, shown here came from the factory in 1923, but the wear looks about like Ernie's gun.

I don't think Hemingway was ever happy starting with a very troubled childhood including being dressed like a girl and watching his mother ( a repressed and somewhat closeted lesbian ) berate his father on a daily basis. A good case could also be made that he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his combat wounding in Italy. Like many angry vets he sought solace in booze, women and brawling in a primitive attempt to deal with the devils inside. Man, could that write.