Autograph Typed Signed by Hemingway Ernest (2 results)

Exceptional group of four letters sent by Ernest Hemingway to close friend Guy Hickok, comprising an exceptional nine page autograph letter signed including two original drawings, a partial autograph letter signed, an unsigned autograph letter, and one-page typed letter signed. The first, and longest, autograph letter, signed "Ernest," nine pages on five sheets, May 7, [1931], written aboard the S.S. Volendam of the Holland-America Line on the ship's letterhead. In part: "Dear Gros: - Well Mr. Hickok - here is a rare thing - a letter from your old Pal asking no favours, not exposing you to expenditure, and returning the photo of your old man. I need no photo to identify him now - I suppose pretty soon you will be so fond of your old man we won't even be able to kid about him. But listen - speaking of rubber checks - if you are so you could use some cash I can let you have it up to whatever you say. You would seem a better placement. as far as chance goes to get it back than any US banks the way things look. I cannot tell you what a privilege it would be to loan dough to some guy you could figure on getting it back from - Also listen Gros - When my kidney was being weird had to give up drinking for about 6 weeks but now can drink and have drunk for ever since a year ago last February. I may have made a certain amt. of dough which has all been given away, loaned or spent but I am a son of a bitch if I have become respectable and no later than last winter was forced to sleep all night on the front porch, not being a good size for Pauline to carry up stairs and on going to church the next morning was supposed to be healed - just because I had bumped into the holy water fount, that I saw the car was standing with the top down and the 3/4 empty bottle very visible (it had been invisible in the dark) in front of the church with the French nameplate to identify it! Don't want to claim to be a drunk like you but have not become respectable. The reason I didn't write you about the book is because it is hard enough to write it without writing about it. But listen if you will come down to Madrid you can read it typed in hrs as far as it is to date besides which we could see who can drink and who not and see the bullfights. The dope is this - am on this boat to arrive. then will go to Madrid and work like a bastard on this book until finished. Have 280 some pages done most to be written over and 1/3 or more to be added, I think you'll like the damn book - no matter where you read it must read it to tell me where in your opinion the greatest deposits of shit lie. Can arrange to return them - If you came down while I was still working you could work at the same time and get off many a powerful piece and we could cruise around in the afternoon and evenings - Anyway I will be there from 16th and 17th of May on -" He goes on to discuss his travel plans and the repayment of a loan, before discussing an arm injury suffered in Montana: "I couldn't write then because my arm was still paralyzed. Have only been able to write since 3 weeks. It will be absolutely all right if keep after it. Anyway can shoot, fish and write with it now, but can't sock anybody." Here, he sketches a diagram of his arm's range of motion and continues, "The chances are Pauline won't get to Madrid until 10 June - I'll be working hard but can only work 3 or 4 hours a day - and will be a lonesome son of a bitch the rest of the time - why don't you come down any time the last of May or last of June? You can be there for the elections - anyway write some good pieces - Anyway write me - Steffs book was pretty damned good on the things he knows about - Part of it swell - Some drivel but not as much as I expected from the author of books - but were or weren't you Peters father - I see he has a cleft chin! Steff is a swell old bird - I'm glad he did such a good book - he must have worked like hell- Give my love to Mary - This isn't a favor about coming to Madrid - It never occurred to me to suggest until I was writing the letter when I thought how sweet it would be to see you - It would be damned good to have us both working - So long guy - I hope everything is fine with you - This is written 3 days and from Havana - 7 days to Vigo - will mail it there - you'll get it in a week maybe. I'd planned to come to Paris first then realized when got to Madrid at once would miss all the bullfight season then this book came along and took it in a hurry (May and June) We'd just bought the house and Pauline wanted to do some looking after it and then miss this 16 days to France route - It is a hell of a fine old house [Hemingway has provided a sketch of his new home in Key West, pointing out his favorite features, including a "flat roof, see all over town and sea" and "covered passageway"] "House square - White Stone - in rear. Well so along again kid and so again love to Mary - Yours always Ernest I hope see you pretty soon - If you can't come now you could come later in the summer maybe-" The second, a partial autograph letter in pencil, unsigned, one page both sides, June 18, [1935], in full: "Thursday June 18 Dear Gros: Listen stupid when you get in a money jam why in hell don't you let me know? I never had any letter from you, on the other hand, I had plenty of jack sure last April. Made 5600 in market all surely gone now but have sold a story to Cosmo for 5000 and in this same mail they say will get in the month July. So am dating these checks today and the other July 1st. cash it on that date as I have money coming in on that date additionally to cover it regardless of whether have Cosmo's check or not. God damn it I was always suspicious of that syndicate job. I can let you take another 500 if you need it on the last of Sept. Gingrich of Esquire is coming here July 3-6 to fish and I will talk to him about your stuff. I'm glad Mary wrote me you guys were broke but for Christ sake why wait so long? You are the soundest place I know to stash any do.

Large 4to. Altogether 2½ pp. on 3 ff. With one autograph envelope. On Hemingway's personal Finca Vigia stationery. To George Brown, the owner of a gymnasium in Manhattan, Hemingway's personal trainer, boxing coach, and friend. - I: Hemingway's affection for his sporting pal is evident in this revealing and highly personal letter, written shortly before Ernest and Mary left for an African safari: "How are you kid? Mary sends her best. We are fine and in very good shape and think of you often. Were out on a trip together on the boat for two weeks and we go to bed every night after it gets dark and have plenty of time to talk and to sleep good [.]". 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). - Partly light-soiled, otherwise in fine condition.