Customer Reviews

Picturing Hemingway's Michigan (Painted Turtle Books)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ernest Hemingway is an iconic American novelist. What is not so well known is that he was also a gifted short story writer who occasionally sought contemplative refuge and inspiration from the northern reaches of Michigan's Little Traverse Bay area in the early 1900s when the region was evolving from a rural lumbering country into a popular vacationing tourist destination. "Picturing Hemingway's Michigan" is a 200-page compendium of archival period photographs, captions and commentary compiled, organized, written and presented by Michael R. Federspiel (Professor of History, Central Michigan University). An expert in the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, Professor Federspiel approaches this project with impressive credentials as the president of the Michigan Hemingway Society and the general editor of the Hemingway Letters Project. Combining vintage Hemingway family photos with excerpts from Hemingway's writings, "Picturing Hemingway's Michigan" is an exemplary and unique approach to regional American history and a highly recommended addition to academic and community library collections, as well as inherently fascinating, informed and informative reading for students and fans of Ernest Hemingway's work.

This coffee table type book isn't only for show. It's beautifully done with good information and an amazing attention to detail. It's a must see, read and own. Can't recommend it more.

My renewed interest in Hemingway began when I started vacationing in the Horton Bay area. Because of his association with the hamlet, I then read several of more of his novels. Later, I took a cruise that happened to stop at Key West, and I gathered more lore regarding Hemingway's life. When Mr. Federspiel's book, Picturing Hemingway's Michigan, came out, I had to have it, as a native of The Mitten State. The book focuses on Hemingway's life in Michigan, vacationing there almost from birth until his 20's, and how it influenced his work. It is a collection of photographs, letters, book excerpts, and text that provide the background information on his family and summer vacation life. The author links the Michigan years into the remainder of Hemingway's life story, without losing track of the book's focus. The book is both beautiful and informative on the life of one of America's literary icons, and also describes the beauty of Michigan. Excellent!