Papa Hemingway by AE Hotchner

I like classic American novels, but I love reading about the eccentric authors who wrote them even more.  Especially the likes of Hemingway.

This volume sat on my mother's bookshelf for decades because she interviewed and wrote a newspaper article about AE Hotchner and his adventures with Hemingway, way back in 1982.  The book contains this touching, handwritten note from Hotchner: "For Julie Wirz, with thanks for an absolutely painless interview, one that Hemingway would have appreciated".

Hotchner and Hemingway were indefatigable adventurers and partners-in-crime for much of the 1950s up to the latter's suicide in 1961.  Virtually every page in the book brings another rich tale to life, each more interesting and funny than the last, sometimes to the very brink of believability.

Now I need to track down my mom's article; I would LOVE to read it now that I've imbibed this wonderful book about two very interesting lives.