The Hemingway affliction, suicide, began with Ernest's father, Dr. Clarence Edmonds Hemingway. Dr. Hemingway came home for lunch one day, told his wife he was having pain in his leg and was worried that it would lead to amputation. He had diabetes. Mrs. Hemingway counseled him to see another doctor. Leicester was home sick from school and Dr. Hemingway was worried about him and he was worried about finances. He had bought some property in Florida and the real estate bubble had popped. Dr. Hemingway was a worrier. He excused himself from the lunch table to rest. He went down to the basement and retrieved an old Civil War sidearm his father had willed him. He then went upstairs to his bedroom. Leicester was in his own bedroom down the hall. Dr. Hemingway drew the blinds, sat on the edge of the bed and shot himself in the left temple. Leicester heard the gunshot and went to his father's room to investigate. The room was darkened but he could see his father laying on the bed making some noises. Leicester put his hand under his father's head and withdrew it wet with blood. Leicester wrote about this years later and the act of writing, and remembering, haunted him and he too committed suicide, shooting himself as his father and brother had. Sister Ursula took pills, also fearing a leg amputation from diabetes. Niece Margeaux Hemingway, also pills. Martha Gellhorn, pills.
The first photograph below has been reprinted here previously. It was taken six months or so before Dr. Hemingway's suicide in 1928. He's not there. He's not with his family, he stands at a remove from them.
In this one too, at Ernest's wedding to Hadley in 1921, Dr. Hemingway stands apart.
The two photographs below are from 1917. He aged rapidly. His hair in 1917 is still black.
In none of the four photographs so far does Dr. Hemingway look at the camera. In the first three he's looking at Ernest. Do you see the way that he has his head tilted in the photo immediately below? It is as if he is contemplating Ernest. Or in the middle of scolding him: "What do you mean, you're going to Europe!" In Professor Lynn's biography of Ernest there is a photograph taken at the same time as the one at top in 1928. In that photograph, Dr. Hemingway tilts his head in the identical manner, as if in contemplation.
Above is the photograph in Lynn's book which I had difficulty finding until now. Below is a photograph of Dr. Hemingway contemplating his wife, Grace. We all have mannerisms. I guess it's just the way the guy held his head.
Everyone is looking at the camera except Dr. Hemingway and little Leicester. This is so odd it looks like Dr. Hemingway has been photoshopped into the picture:
Maybe a year later? The kids look a little older. He's not there.
On their wedding day or something? I don't really know.
I think it was Professor Lynn who remarked "On the few occasions when Dr. Hemingway was photographed looking at the camera..."
"On the few occasions when Dr. Hemingway was photographed looking at the camera," he looked...worried? Spooked? Sad? Haunted?:
I went through my Hemingway phase years ago, in the 1990's maybe. Read just about everything he wrote and the two biographies. The whole shebang left me with a feeling. When I thought about Hemingway, when, for instance, I saw one of the books on my shelves, I had this feeling of being unsettled; I felt unsettled, troubled, the whole thing is a little disturbing.
The first photograph below has been reprinted here previously. It was taken six months or so before Dr. Hemingway's suicide in 1928. He's not there. He's not with his family, he stands at a remove from them.
In this one too, at Ernest's wedding to Hadley in 1921, Dr. Hemingway stands apart.
The two photographs below are from 1917. He aged rapidly. His hair in 1917 is still black.
In none of the four photographs so far does Dr. Hemingway look at the camera. In the first three he's looking at Ernest. Do you see the way that he has his head tilted in the photo immediately below? It is as if he is contemplating Ernest. Or in the middle of scolding him: "What do you mean, you're going to Europe!" In Professor Lynn's biography of Ernest there is a photograph taken at the same time as the one at top in 1928. In that photograph, Dr. Hemingway tilts his head in the identical manner, as if in contemplation.
Above is the photograph in Lynn's book which I had difficulty finding until now. Below is a photograph of Dr. Hemingway contemplating his wife, Grace. We all have mannerisms. I guess it's just the way the guy held his head.
Everyone is looking at the camera except Dr. Hemingway and little Leicester. This is so odd it looks like Dr. Hemingway has been photoshopped into the picture:
Much, much earlier. The only one not looking at the camera.
Maybe a year later? The kids look a little older. He's not there.
On their wedding day or something? I don't really know.
I think it was Professor Lynn who remarked "On the few occasions when Dr. Hemingway was photographed looking at the camera..."
I went through my Hemingway phase years ago, in the 1990's maybe. Read just about everything he wrote and the two biographies. The whole shebang left me with a feeling. When I thought about Hemingway, when, for instance, I saw one of the books on my shelves, I had this feeling of being unsettled; I felt unsettled, troubled, the whole thing is a little disturbing.
