Ernest Hemingway is arguably one of the most famous authors of the modern period. He was one of the most prestigious members of the “Lost Generation,” a phrase he popularized to describe the artistic movement of writers and artists following World War I. Hemingway published recognizable classics such as The Sun Also Rises, To Whom The Bell Tolls, A Farewell To Arms, and The Old Man and The Sea. While notable for his crisp, straightforward writing, Hemingway was just as recognized for his larger than life personality. Hemingway married four times and traveled extensively during his lifetime. In a letter to Ivan Kaskin, he wrote of liquor-“ I would as soon not eat at night as not to have red wine or water. The only time it isn’t good for you is when you write or when you fight.” Hemingway seemingly prescribed to the machismo order of his time by partaking in the activities of bull-running, boxing, hunting, and fishing. During his lifetime, Hemingway won both a Pulitzer prize and a Nobel Peace Prize for his work. He was sometimes affectionately known and called by his friends, family, and readers simply by his nickname, Papa.
Despite this burliness and notoriety, Hemingway is also well recognized for his love of cats. Interestingly, the man known for his love of big game hunting in the African safari often returned home to his little “purr factories.” In her biography of Hemingway entitled Hemingway’s Cats, Carlene Breenen recounts the many cats that kept Hemingway company throughout his life. The book provides 185 pages of fantastic insight into these cats and the man who loved them as well as countless photos. Writing on cats, Hemingway once said, “A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” Hemingway is perhaps one of the most noted and affectionate cat owners that the literary world has ever known. [Read more…]