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ALS signed “Mr. Papa,” one page both sides, 8.5 x 11, San Lorenzo del Escorial letterhead, November 2, 1956. Lengthy handwritten letter to Roberto Herrera, his close friend, part-time secretary, and brother of his Cuban doctor, sent to Herrera at Hemingway's Cuban home, Finca Vigia. Hemingway writes from Spain, commenting on his health, bullfights, and a script for The Sun Also Rises. He also adds some direction for his Cuban affairs, referring several times to Gregorio Fuentes, the first mate of Hemingway's boat, the Pilar, and said to be the model for the character Santiago in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.
In part: "We have been very happy here. Juanito Madinaveitia can practice again and he is doing a wonderful job on Mary but, knowing nothing of the human body, nor of medicine, she is very impatient and 6 days of treatment seems to her a long time to cure anemia…she wants to be cured in one day. (Naturally). Juanito found my pressure much too high…he put me on a regimen of 1 glass of wine…5 oz. of whiskey and not more than 1 quart of water (liquids he says are bad—whiskey relaxes). But of course my kidneys need to be kept open and especially with bad grippe. But anyway have followed the regimen now (am over the grippe) and get a full examination tomorrow. You and Feo know all the problems but Juanito found what he diagnosed as an inflammation of the coronal artery….
The Sierra is very good for Mary…We have had lovely weather for 3 weeks. Each day more perfect than the last. For some strange reason am very popular and have not changed in anyway nor re-canted but now sign autograph for Guardia Civiles…In Zaragoza…the boys work very hard with any bull they dedicate and really put it on the line. Of the first 5 bulls dedicated to us all matadors cut ears, and twice tails too and once both ears, tail and a foot….The last time Ordonez…said 'Ernesto, we know this bull is worthless. But let's see what we can do with him and if I can kill him to please you.' He killed 4 bulls recibiendo in front of Mary and me in the six fights we saw him in…
Enclose check for $2500 for you to deposit and write checks on for Gregorio and any emergency. I cannot say yet when we will be back. But he has until March First to get the Pilar in good shape, if it is longer I will let him know, will write him. Today have to write in a hurry to get this off as am very busy about The Sun Also Rises script which is unspeakably horrible and awful. Peter Viertel is flying down and have been on telephone all day…Best to all your family and give Mary's and my best to the girls and the people at the Finca." He adds multiple postscripts on the front of the letter, one noting: "Here until Nov. 12—then Paris—please find out my bank balance and inform me. Thanks. Papa." In fine condition, with scattered small stains. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
This remarkable letter, written while vacationing in Spain, touches upon numerous aspects of Hemingway's life and work—covering his affinity for drink (prescribed wine and whiskey as a Spanish cure for high blood pressure), his love of bullfighting, his international fame, and the adaptation of his literary material for the silver screen. Toward the end of the letter, he mentions reviewing the screenplay written by Peter Viertel for a film adaptation of The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway's first novel, which follows expatriates who travel to Pamplona and watch the running of the bulls. Although Hemingway and Viertel were friends, the celebrated writer did not care for the script or the resulting film—he walked out after 25 minutes, saying: 'I saw as much of Darryl Zanuck's splashy Cook's tour of Europe's lost generation bistros, bullfights, and more bistros… It's pretty disappointing and that's being gracious. Most of my story was set in Pamplona so they shot the film in Mexico. You're meant to be in Spain and all you see walking around are nothing but Mexicans… It looked pretty silly. The bulls were mighty small for a start, and it looked like they had big horns on them for the day. I guess the best thing about the film was Errol Flynn.'
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