Celebrating the 115 Years of Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

1939 Cuba

     Today is Ernest Hemingway's 115th birthday.  It makes me think of all the places, people and events that made up this incredible life.   Born in Cicero, IL (Chicago), then traveled all over the world to have his live end in Ketchum, ID  

     Learned to hunt and fish at a family cabin in Northern Michigan, an ability that would follow him through out his life.  He was on the high school paper mostly writing about sports.  Later he would get a job with the Toronto Star, where he feels like he learned to be a writer.  "On the Star you were forced to learn to write a simple declarative sentence. This is useful to anyone. Newspaper work will not harm a young writer and could help him if he gets out of it in time."



WWI 1918

     Served as a ambulance drive for the Italian Army during WWI until being injured.  He also received the Italian Silver Medal for Bravery.  he covered the Spanish Civil War as a correspondent and the same during WWII including such battles as the D Day Landing.

     From his early short stories to the novels his writing followed the lessons he had learned working as a newspaper writer, simple and easy to read and understand.  This is the formula that mad his books so well liked and finally earned him a Pulitzer Prize for The Old Man and the Sea.

Ernest, Gregory and Patrick in Cuba

     He was married four times and lived all over the world, but he has really left his mark on Key West, Paris, and Havana.  The houses that he lived in in Key West and Havana are revered and visited daily by hundreds and hundreds of people.  The displays of his "stuff" and his lifestyle make for a very interesting visit.

Marlin Fishing in Bimini

    Happy Birthday to the Man, he lived larger that life and he remains as the "man's man" even 53 years after his passing.