When my American Lit teacher Juanita Elijah took my Dan Jenkins books away from me back during my formidable years at John Marshall High School… she in essence turned me onto four American writers as substitutes for Dead Solid Perfect and Semi-Tough.
She knew I was somewhat limited so she steered me towards Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and Jack London.
Jack London is probably my favorite because of Call of the Wild and White Fang. Steinbeck is second favorite and then Ernest Hemingway.
My favorites by Hemigway are The Sun Also Rises, Old Man and the Sea, and A Farewell to Arms.
I never would have read these books if not for Juanita Elijah.
PBS is airing the Ken Burns documantary on Hemingway this very week. Like most Ken Burns films…it’s spectacular.
Hemingway’s ending was of course tragic as he took his own life.
Very interesting person. I think the film is effective in getting beyond the myths of Hemingway and revealing as who he was as a human.
It’s a must see both from a literature and historical standpoint in that Hemingway was the most influential American writer in the previous century.
Be sure and take the time to watch it on PBS.
Footnote clarification: If you voted for Donald Trump twice or Mr. Pillow once White Fang was written by Jack London…not Ernest Hemingway. Carry on.