Details from Audible:
Ernest Hemingway on Writing
Written by
Narrated by
An assemblage of reflections on the nature of writing and the writer from one the greatest American writers of the 20th century.
Throughout Hemingway’s career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing – that it takes off “whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk’s feathers if you show it or talk about it”.
Despite this belief, by the end of his life he had done just what he intended not to do. In his novels and stories, in letters to editors, friends, fellow artists, and critics, in interviews and in commissioned articles on the subject, Hemingway wrote often about writing. And he wrote as well and as incisively about the subject as any writer who ever lived….
This book contains Hemingway’s reflections on the nature of the writer and on elements of the writer’s life, including specific and helpful advice to writers on the craft of writing, work habits, and discipline. The Hemingway personality comes through in general wisdom, wit, humor, and insight, and in his insistence on the integrity of the writer and of the profession itself. (From the Preface by Larry W. Phillips)©2002 Larry W. Phillips
Initial Thoughts:
Hemingway was a literary genius and one of the most unique and interesting American writers to have ever lived. Bold statement I know but I have loved him for a long time and I always find joy by finding something by him, or about him, that I haven’t consumed yet. I think it all began for me when I read “Old Man and the Sea” back in high school, most people hated it but I enjoyed it and have spent my life since then slowly reading many of this novels, short stories and non-fiction works. That’s my long winded way of saying when I found this on Audible I decided, of course, to give it a listen.
Main Points:
This is something a little different as it collects everything Hemingway has ever said, at least that was recorded, on writing from various sources. As I have read/listened to a lot by him there were lots of times where I had heard the quotes before but probably only 30-40% and it was so much better to have it collected in chapters with themes. John Bedford Lloyd does a great job reading it, he has a deep voice and really puts emotion into it, I think Hemingway himself would have been pleased.
As a writer myself I found lots of great advice here along with humorous anecdotes and of course some sad and depressing parts (as Hemingway was a tortured soul and plagued by physical issues later in life). For me this is just as much an invaluable tool for writers as it is a wonderful chance to learn more about his life and his personality. All of that said I found some chapters to be much too short, I’m not sure if anything could have been done to change that other than leave them out however. I also felt that constantly saying after each quote where it was from, including page numbers, was distracting. I think this would have been better left out of the audiobook or perhaps instead put at the end of each chapter instead.
Final Thoughts:
As the author states in the beginning this a short book and that’s what I felt at the end, a profound feeling that it was a tragic shame Hemingway left us so soon, I wished he could have written more or there was more interviews with him. I loved this collection and would highly reccomend it to anyone who is a fan of his writing, wants to learn from him as a writer or simply wants to get tips on how to be a better writer. I give it a very strong 8.5 out of 10. There is some coarse language, so ages 14+. I will forever love Hemingway, despite his many flaws, and continue to listen to everything I can find on him. As a warning Hemingway suffered from depression, anxiety and PTSD (in my opinion) and as such I would prepare you for some quotes that are a little hard to listen to knowing how his life ended.