‘A Moveable Feast’ by Ernest Hemingway

My Review (5 stars out of 5)

A Moveable Feast is Ernest Hemingway’s reflections on his early days as a writer in Paris, meeting other writers, struggling to sell his stories and often being short of money.

Firstly, the paperback I bought has a different cover. It also does not contain the ‘personal foreword by Patrick Hemingway’, or the ‘introduction by the editor and grandson of the author, Seán Hemingway’. The text is different to the ‘look-inside’ feature and, according to the publishers Arrow Books, was first published in Britain by Jonathan Cape in 1936. Clever, considering Hemingway didn’t finish writing it until 1961!

I’ve never been a massive fan of old Ernie but have to say my opinion has changed a little with this one. Though Hemingway comes over as a bit of a pain – mainly concerned with his own problems – he also, at times, writes beautifully and with great passion. While much of the writing is about food and drink, he also details his various meetings with writers such as F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Wyndham Lewis, and James Joyce. His account of drinks with Ford Madox Ford are hilarious, and his efforts to support the Fitzgerald’s are quite touching.  

A thoughtful and insightful peek into the author’s life.

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