I thought the Epic Veteran Writers battle was going to be a ‘slam dunk’ for three time veteran Ernest Hemingway: World War I veteran- Italian Ambulance Corps, ‘hang-around’ Spanish Civil War and World War II vet.
Writing award winner, big time money earner- $5,000 for magazine pieces during the 1930’s, when a workingman’s yearly salary was $1,000.
Hemingway lived a life most people can only dream: making a mountain of money doing what he liked, writing some of the greatest American novels, go to war, big game hunting in Africa, drunken brawling, go to war again, fly fishing, more writing, deep sea fishing off the Cuban coast, once again goes to war, world traveling and more drunken bawling.
He was also married a few times and had several children, whom were not quiet as messed up; but messed up none the less.
I invented a Hemingway tribute term: ‘going Hemingway’- which I define: “writing while drinking a whiskey, only wearing your t-shirt and under-wear”.
Sometimes I ‘go Hemingway’.
Inebriated inspiration; no inhibitions.
Hemingway was also a complete mess…mental health issues- which sadly did not skip a generation, many marital issues, money issues…more later.
Not at all. Please do that, I think it would be helpful to many and fascinating to all writers/veterans/and civilians.
I dont know much about Hemingway but I know a little about PTSD. I have never been diagnosed but I think I have a touch of it. But, I know several guys who have it. Anything we can do to get people talking about it is so important. Let me know if I could be of any help on this or anything else.
Rob- thank you for the comment and permission. I will credit you with the initial PSTD thought. Hemingway’s dad committed suicide as did Ernie- maybe mental illness ran in the family and the PTSD exasperated the illness.
Sounds like Hemingway had a touch of PTSD, or what they called it back in the day. “Battle Fatigue.” I think it was really tough for those guys.
rob
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Thank you for the comment and observation. I never connected Hemingway’s behavior to PTSD- given his WWI experience, this was very likely.
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robakers- Would you mind if I expanded on your PTSD theory in a future blog post?
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Not at all. Please do that, I think it would be helpful to many and fascinating to all writers/veterans/and civilians.
I dont know much about Hemingway but I know a little about PTSD. I have never been diagnosed but I think I have a touch of it. But, I know several guys who have it. Anything we can do to get people talking about it is so important. Let me know if I could be of any help on this or anything else.
rob
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rob- thank you for the comment and permission. I will credit you with the initial PSTD thought. Hemingway’s dad committed suicide as did Ernie- maybe mental illness ran in the family and the PTSD exasperated the illness.
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