Category Archives: Life reflections

“I Met Ernest Hemingway Once”

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hemingwayJack’s weekly guest blog

When you live in a bookstore you are continually passing by loads and loads of book spines with titles, and every so often one that evokes a memory from a far off time. Just the other day I noticed a Hemingway and was transported back – – –

One of my close friends back in Scotland (sadly now deceased) was John Watt, a fine and knowledgeable singer of traditional Scots songs and writer of many fine songs–so fine, in fact, that they were repeatedly mistaken for traditional numbers.

In the 1980s John got a grant to work with some retired Fife coalminers who had gone off to fight in the Spanish Civil War, recording their experiences and memories of the time. One of them was a colorful local character named Hugh Sloan; Hugh tended to mumble, so John almost missed it one day when he said, “…and I met Ernest Hemingway.” John knew, of course, that Hemingway had been a war correspondent in Spain at that time, so he asked Hugh to back up and give him more details.

Here is Hugh Sloan’s story as recounted by John Watt to me (with some translation from Scots to English where necessary) –

I was up in Burgos in the north, with the international brigade fighting for the Republicans against Franco’s fascists. We came under heavy attack and the order was given “tae get oot the wummin and bairns” (evacuate the women and children). I was sent to the square “tae get them oan the lorries” (assist them onto the trucks). When I got there the first lorry was loading and I saw a young guy sitting on the tailgate.

“So a said tae him – ‘get aff.’ An’ tha’ was Hemingway.”

Realizing that, from Hugh’s point of view, the story was over, John then asked if Hugh had had any further conversation with Hemingway.

“Oh aye” (why, yes) – I said “Ah’ve telt ye wance – get aff the f***in’ lorry” (I’ve already asked you once – please descend from the f***ing truck).

Again, a pause. John asked, “What happened?”

“He wudnae get aff.”

John: (sighing) So you left him there?

Oh aye, nae – Ah had this revolver in a holster at ma hip, so ah undid the clasp, took oot the gun, held it against his heid and said “see you – if ye dinna get aff this f***in’ lorry ah’ll blaw yir f***in’ brains oot!” (translation probably no longer necessary).

John: So, did he get off?

Oh aye – he got aff.

Just in case, John asked Hugh if he’d had any other words with Hemingway, but apparently that was all of it. So now you know.

The Monday Book: NAME OF THE WIND by Patrick Rothfuss

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The Monday book is brought to you by guest reviewer Beth O’Connor, a friend of mine.

Fantasy books are brain candy.  I love them – read them almost exclusively – but they rarely offer much in the way of intellectual nutrition.  And occasionally they leave you with the feeling that you need to brush your teeth.

And then I read Patrick Rothfuss’ Name of the Wind and its sequel The Wise Man’s Fear.  On the surface, these are well-written fantasy books.  But dig deeper and you’ll see that Rothfuss uses a make-believe world to challenge social norms and address injustice.  Institutional poverty, caste systems, gender roles, bigotry, etc. all are reviewed and dismissed as not only unfair, but harmful to society as a whole.

The fantasy world allows the reader to consider the situations without bias.  Where a non-fiction writer might have a hard time to get a reader to be objective about real-life racial stereotypes, Rothfuss can address those same issues about the Edema Ruh and other groups he has created because no one has ever heard of them before.

Additionally, Rothfuss’ characters spout some wonderful philosophy.  I’ve never wanted to quote a fantasy writer before, but I may have to start using some of these gems:

  • “The day we fret about our future is the day we leave our childhood behind.”
  •  “Books are a poor substitute for female companionship, but they are easier to find.”
  • “Clothes do not make the man, but you need the proper costume if you want to play the part.”
  • “That is how heavy a secret can become.  It can make blood flow easier than ink.”
  •  “Nothing in the world is harder than convincing someone of an unfamiliar truth.”
  • “Half of seeming clever is keeping your mouth shut at the right times.”
  •  “If you want to know the truth of who you are, walk until not a person knows your name.  Travel is the great leveler, the great teacher.”

My biggest surprise was how I found Rothfuss – a relative new comer in the fantasy world.  An interview on his efforts appeared in my copy of World Ark, the magazine Heifer International produces for their donors.  Heifer strives to end world hunger through teaching people how to care for livestock rather than just giving them food.  Heifer included an article about Rothfuss because of the work he has done to raise funds for Heifer, including donating most of the income he receives from the sale of his books.

In his own words; “I’ve been poor before, but this time it’s for a good cause.”  Rothfuss pulls together other fantasy authors, publishing companies and readers for an annual event called “Worldbuilders” (worldbuilders.org).  The 2013 event raised over $678,000 for Heifer International.

The first book starts a bit slow as Rothfuss takes a full six chapters to develop the scene, but once the stage is set, the plot moves like a freight train.  I highly recommend reading Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear.  But prepare for disappointment, the third book of the series has yet to be published.