Ernest Hemingway Reads Ernest Hemingway (Classic Literature Series) [ABRIDGED] [AUDIOBOOK] (Audio Cassette)

~ Ernest Hemingway (Author, Reader)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"A writer must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day," says Ernest Hemingway in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech. Eternity Hemingway certainly has secured for himself with his internationally renowned body of work. In this collection, however, he reads some of his lesser-known pieces, including the Nobel speech, a poem, and even a work in progress, most of which were recorded in Cuba. Although his readings of his own work seem timidly rigid at times, this tape represents a rare opportunity for Hemingway fans and nonfans alike, as it is one of the only known recordings of the writer's voice. (Running time: 45 minutes, 1 cassette) --Natasha Senjanovich

From Library Journal

"A writer should write what he has to say and not speak it," noted Ernest Hemingway, toward the end of his Nobel prize acceptance speech. Especially, he might have added, when it is recorded badly on obsolete equipment and the writer sounds like he may have had a few drinks. Nor are these selections taken from his best work. "Second Poem to Mary," "Harry's Bar in Venice," a short excerpt from The Fifth Column, something called "Work in Progress" (Islands in the Stream), and "Saturday Night at the Whorehouse in Billings, Montana" comprise the other selections. Balance these minuses against the historic value this tape holds (it may be the only existing tape of Hemingway reading) and the reasonable price, and you make the call. William Faulkner Reads, on the other hand, can be heartily recommended. The interest here, of course, is how he navigates his own two-page, stream-of-consciousness sentences, which would melt most modern grammarians. Calmly, it turns out, taking frequent breaths. His performance and the technical quality of the recording is much better than Hemingway's, though both would have benefited from titles appearing on the tape, rather than merely on the box. The Faulkner selections are superior, including his well-known Nobel acceptance speech and excerpts from As I Lay Dying, A Fable, and The Old Man.?John Hiett, Iowa City P.L.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Caedmon (April 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898459583
• ISBN-13: 978-0898459586
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,014,533 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible to hear his voice, August 1, 1999

By A Customer

I've seen the old film clips of Hemingway, read the novels and articles, and can call up the images of Papa Hemingway on his boat, or on safari, or just sitting on a chair... but nothing compares to actually hearing what he sounded like - how he would read the words he wrote - this is not only a MUST for any fan of Hemingway - this should be required listening in any American Literature 101 class. Wonderful.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hem comes alive!, October 14, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ernest Hemingway Reads: The Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech : In Harry's Bar in Venice and Other of His Writings (Audio Cassette)

No need to say a lot. If you like to read Hemingway, you just have got to hear him read his own words. It's so very strange when you press the play-button the first time...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A review of the Nobel Prize speech, November 23, 2006

By	Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Ernest Hemingway Reads: The Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech : In Harry's Bar in Venice and Other of His Writings (Audio Cassette)

This may be the only recording of Hemingway reading his own works. It is not of the best sound quality. And the works he reads from are also not his best.
My remarks relate to the Nobel Prize Speech. Hemingway known for his bluster and braggadocio reveals a surprising and quite touching humility in the speech when he refers to all the great writers who were never given the prize. He also speaks about the loneliness of the writing craft and the challenge to with each work aim at something new, and provide a creation to the world which has not been here before.
Here is an excerpt containing some of the most telling remarks of his speech.

"Writing, at its best, is a lonely life. Organizations for writers palliate the writer's loneliness but I doubt if they improve his writing. He grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. For he does his work alone and if he is a good enough writer he must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day. For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed. How simple the writing of literature would be if it were only necessary to write in another way what has been well written. It is because we have had such great writers in the past that a writer is driven far out past where he can go, out to where no one can help him. I have spoken too long for a writer. A writer should write what he has to say and not speak it. Again I thank you."