A (VERY) EARLY DRAFT FOR A WELL-KNOWN WRITER

Ernest Hemingway was one of the most prolific American novelists of recent history, known for works like The Old Man and the Sea and The Sun Also Rises. His work has been part of school curriculums for generations, and many Americans were exposed to his writings as children. This makes it difficult to imagine this icon as a child himself, but these papers give a glimpse into what interested Hemingway in his childhood. The excerpt above was taken from a short story he wrote during his youth about a cook at a lumber camp. These are two pages out of the total five that make up the story. His edits and changing ideas are evident on the page, from the scratched out words to the messy handwriting. This piece demonstrates how all writers, even the most prolific, begin: by writing stories that excite their imagination and not being afraid to make mistakes.

by Caroline O’Mara, English, Class of 2026

Ernest Hemingway Letters to His Family
Eberly Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University