Ernest Hemingway
By: Brae Harris
Facts
- Born on July 21, 1899, in Cicero (now in Oak Park), Illinois
- Ernest Hemingway served in World War I and worked in journalism before publishing his story collection In Our Time.
- He once said, "On the Star you were forced to learn to write a simple declarative sentence.
For his service, he was awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery, but soon sustained injuries that landed him in a hospital in Milan.
The couple married and quickly moved to Paris, where Hemingway worked as a foreign correspondent for the Star
When he wasn't writing, Hemingway spent much of the 1930s chasing adventure: big-game hunting in Africa, bullfighting in Spain, deep-sea fishing in Florida.
In 1951, Hemingway wrote The Old Man and the Sea, which would become perhaps his most famous book, finally winning him the Pulitzer Prize he had long been denied.
Fun Facts About Ernest Hemingway
- Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21st 1899 at the very end of the 19th century and in his lifetime would see huge strides in science, medicine, the Great Depression, two World Wars and so many innovations it must have been a remarkable life.
- When World War I broke out Ernest Hemingway answered an advertisement for recruitment into the Red Cross and he signed up to become an ambulance driver in Italy.
- In 1937 Ernest Hemingway agreed to travel to Spain and report on the Spanish Civil War. During his term in Spain he met Martha Gellhorn and eventually his marriage to Pauline would end. He married Martha in 1940. His marriage to Martha was relatively short and while on a trip to England he met Mary Welsh.
- Throughout his life he seemed to ridiculously accident prone, between car crashes and plane crashes there were many times he escaped death. It is thought to a degree that some of his substantial drinking was due to residual pain from so many mishaps.
- Ernest Hemingway left behind a library of literature of his own making that encompassed his life and times, his travels and events around the world. Ernest Hemingway wrote in style that younger writers either emulated or hated.
- His six-toed cat was a rather busy cat in Key West. This is why there is no shortage of six-toed cats in Key West.
During his 62 years, he married four times and divorced three times (Hadley Richardson, Pauline Pfeiffer, Martha Gellhorn, Mar Welsh Hemingway). Martha Gellhorn never liked being Hemingway’s third wife and required that interviewers not mention the man
- Ernest killed himself with his favorite shotgun, purchased from Abercrombie & Fitch.
More Quick Facts
- . During his life, Hemingway survived exposure to anthrax, malaria, skin cancer, and pneumonia. He lived through diabetes, two plane crashes, a ruptured kidney, hepatitis, a ruptured spleen, a fractured skull, a crushed vertebra, and the only thing he could not stop was himself. Ultimately, Hemingway took his favorite gun and went to the foyer where he put two rounds into his head after returning from the Mayo Clinic.
- After World War II, he was accused of War Crimes by Geneva surrounding an event where Ernest lead a group of French Militia against the Nazis. He was not convicted.
- In the 1940’s, Hemingway worked closely with the Soviet KGB. He went under the cover name “Argo.” Edgar Hoover and many FBI officials spied on him for much of his later life. Some even claim this added level of pressure deepened his depression and later led him to take his own life.
- He wanted to fight in World War I, but was denied due to his wretched eye sight. However, he convinced the military to make him an ambulance driver. Unfortunately, during the war he was wounded from mortar fire.
Hemingway’s brother founded a nation off the coast of Jamaica that consisted of a raft and 7 citizens. It had currency, postage, and a constitution.