Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Peter Robinson ·
Jul 2, 2011 at 9:48pm
As Phil Terzian notes on Facebook, Ernest Hemingway died fifty years ago today, a suicide at 61. Here Hemingway accepts the 1954 Nobel Prize for literature--and, in roughly two minutes, describes the ideals by which he attempted to live, and that make him, even now, worth honoring, and emulating.
- Comment (16)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (0)
Comments :
Mar '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
My favorite writer by far. When I refer to "The Elements of Style" I'm convinced that William Strunk would have been very happy with Hemingway's style.
Apr '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Seems he also flirted with the KGB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h__IDYK-MmM
One wonders if he was truly enchanted with Communism or just making contact with KGB agents for 'research' purposes. I also like the Alger Hiss part in this video.
Apr '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Oh Peter, no. Hemingway? A shameless liar, a drunken brute, a satyr, a man who tried to start his own animist religion, and a coward in the end? There is nothing to commend that man for.
And as a writer, I think he was once of the worst examples to other writers; one who wrote (falsely, and in his favor, but still,) mainly about his own life, and there is nothing worse for a writer (anywhere, and anyone) to do, is live a life like that, because it only leads to tragedy; one must always continue to lead an interesting-- i.e. self destructive— life...
Edited on Jul 3, 2011 at 4:37amMay '10
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Thanks for the video, Peter. As a prospective novelist, I really enjoyed it. My favorite Hemingway is The Snows of Kilimanjaro (isn't that everyone's?) and Hills Like White Elephants.
And DB, a coward? You can call Hemingway many things (drunk, satyr, Communist sympathizer, etc) but the picture of him on crutches I believe results from him picking up a fallen comrade on the battlefield and carrying him back to an ambulance while getting shot in the legs. Cowards don't typically participate in that sort of activity.
Mar '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
I admire his work, not his character. Hemingway came as close as anyone to the grand Strunkian rule: "Omit needless words."
Any literate can write prose. Hemingway sculpted it.
May '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
One of my favorite authors. Thanks for making me think of him today.
Apr '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Why he had to leave Cuba is what I mean.
What he wrote is neither here nor there, as far I am concerned; writers are just people, after all.
Hemingway as a standard for a Real Man, that is what my problem with him is. As Gold Standard for much of anything, Hemingway falls short. Of course, we all fall short. That is sadly the problem with Hero worship to begin with...
Jul '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
What Peter wrote—"the ideals by which [Hemingway] attempted to live"—is right on. The degree to which he actually attained those ideals is much easier to judge than to try for ourselves. Perhaps that's what makes Hemingway such a tragic figure.
As for his work, I think it speaks for itself.
Edited on Jul 3, 2011 at 8:40amMar '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Hemingway's prose is crisp and straightforward. That's more difficult than sometimes supposed.
Favorites here include The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and In Our Time.
Strunk, meanwhile, is a pocket-knife. He's useful here and there in odds jobs correcting student writing. Like the Chicago Manual of Style--good for establishing certain academical formalities, much less helpful in educating the taste of aspiring writers or discerning readers.
A far better guide to style is available in Ezra Pound's ABC of Reading.
Aug '10
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
A fine speech.
But I'm not sure I would wish to emulate Hemingway either as a writer or a human being.
His terseness has merit. But his cult of masculinity bores me, perhaps because I am a woman.
Edited on Jul 3, 2011 at 3:32pmApr '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
A man who gets drunk and fights with everyone and seduces women in front of his wife (many of them hardly of age) and expects them to go along with it is not a Man. His Tragedy is a matter of fate and divine retribution.
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Just to be clear: Coolidge for character and principles, but Hemingway for prose. And also when he was at his best--which is to say, before he became a celebrity--for the high seriousness with which he approached the writing life.
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Thanks for remembering this sad anniversary, Peter. I still remember what it felt like when I finished my first Hemingway novel. He's one of my very favorites.
Mar '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
A schoolgirl [St. Kilian's, Farmingdale, NY] reading the LI Press in 1961: not really understanding what "suicide" meant, yet no adult wanted to talk about it. He had been 'one of ours', but had gone disastrously astray.
I remember feeling unutterably sad that this celebrated man could die so alone. He was a writer! Older people than I read his books: how could he 'condemn himself', how could he submit to despair, the One Sin God could not forgive?
Thank you Peter, for giving us his voice, on this anniversary.
Mar '11
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Maureen Rice
A schoolgirl [St. Kilian's, Farmingdale, NY] reading the LI Press in 1961: not really understanding what "suicide" meant, yet no adult wanted to talk about it. He had been 'one of ours', but had gone disastrously astray.
I remember feeling unutterably sad that this celebrated man could die so alone. He was a writer! Older people than I read his books: how could he 'condemn himself', how could he submit to despair, the One Sin God could not forgive?
Thank you Peter, for giving us his voice, on this anniversary.
· Jul 3 at 9:54pm
As I understand the story, he had received electroshock therapy for depression leaving him unable to write, circumstances that led to his becoming suicidal. For what it's worth, his father committed suicide, also.
Nov '10
Re: Ernest Hemingway Accepts the Nobel Prize
Midget Faded Rattlesnake:
His terseness has merit.
Yeah, sorry, but no. His "terseness" reminds me of a third grader who hasn't learned to use conjunctions yet. It's the literary equivalent of trying to eat instant oatmeal without any water, dry as a bone and unappetizing. Easily one of the worst writers I've ever had the misfortune to be forced to read.