Description

A fascinating and original exploration of the women who influenced Ernest Hemingway’s life and writing.

Writing was Ernest Hemingway’s greatest passion, fueled by a lifetime of thrilling adventures and the encouragement of the many women he loved. He deliberately sought out danger to test his own bravery and to craft literary heroes who embodied grace under pressure. His bold, adventurous nature drew women of all ages—including four wives and several famous actresses—many of whom he immortalized in his fiction.

In 1950, Hemingway confided to Marlene Dietrich that he had truly loved only five women. Who were they, and what made them so important to him? His wives—Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gellhorn, and Mary Welsh—were certainly among them, but there were others as well, including Agnes von Kurowsky. Using Hemingway’s personal letters, passages from his works, and more than sixty photographs—many previously unpublished—Hemingway scholar Nancy W. Sindelar examines his romantic relationships and how they shaped both his life and literature.

Although much has been written about Hemingway, no book before this has so thoroughly connected the women he loved to his literary legacy. These stories reveal the profound impact his relationships had on his writing, as well as the struggles, ambition, and heartbreak that defined his personal journey. Sindelar’s insightful analysis offers a fresh perspective on the celebrated writer, adventurer, and romantic.

Includes 60 photographs, many never before published.