Konted's Make My Day 2: Ernest Hemingway: Novelist Nonpareil

bbc photo

Ernest Hemingway: Novelist Nonpareil

In my school days, and that was a long time ago, whenever we were asked to submit a book report or a critical analysis in Literature, and we had a choice as to title and author, I would choose The Old Man And The Sea. I had read it then many times before and doing a report was just a breeze. Interesting, entertaining and inspiring, the Old Man and The Sea was written by a former journalist turned novelist who is still considered as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. He remains as my favorite novelist.

Ernest Hemingway was, among others, a fishing buff who would spend days and months in the open sea aboard his fishing vessel. He would spend much of his time in the Gulf Stream, in the waters of Bimini and even would reach as far as New Zealand and Australia. He was good in sport fishing. He would be joined, sometimes, by friends that included the great adventure writer Zane Grey. From his experience, from his real exposure to fishing, he gathered enough material to write the book The Old Man and The Sea.

His narrative of the travails of the old man Santiago and the old man's brief triumphant moment when he caught a marlin, up to the time when sharks devoured his prize catch, Hemingway's way of expressing himself made you feel that you were in the boat with Santiago while he was hitting the sharks with his harpoon. He had a distinctive writing style, so good that he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and, eventually, the Nobel Prize for Literature. With his achievements, the more he gained fame and enjoyed the company of equally noted writers such as James Joyce and Ezra Pound.

While Hemingway had four marriages, of course one at a time, one thing that remained constant was his love for writing. Even when he was having excessive drinking problem, he continued writing. Whether he was residing in Florida, or in Cuba or in Wyoming, writing preoccupied his time. But in the latter stage of his colorful and exciting life, he was having bouts of depression. But this was not startling. His father committed suicide, two siblings did the same and granddaughter Margaux Hemingway, who was then an actress, took her own life. Hemingway shot himself in the head in his house in Idaho. It was all in the family.

Yesterday, I was thinking again of Hemingway. He was born in the month of July. I, too, was born in July. His exact date of birth is July 21. I have a brother who was born on July 21. Hemingway's father was a physician. My father too was a doctor. His favorite novel character was Santiago. I am chained to a woman whose surname is Santiago. Hemingway was an adventurer. I too love the outdoor life. He loved beautiful women and was easily smitten by them. I too adore beautiful women. Hemingway was sick of Schizophrenia. I too am sick of Schizo.....err, what time does the ball game begin?

- Konted