Intriguing and revealing TLS, one page, 8.5 x 11, Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paul, Cuba letterhead, September 8, 1954. Hemingway writes a chatty letter to Harold Livingston, offering much in the way of health- and work-related advice and mentioning concerns with his own health. In part: “Everybody gets those streaks, kid. There are all sorts of causes. But it is perfectly natural to have slumps. With me they are usually seasonable due to heat…. Physical exercise makes a very big difference to me. Without it I get stale and loggy [sic]. The vitamins I know are healthy for me and the exercise is essential. But once you get in shape the great thing is not to worry. Worry will kill any creative activity. Kill you too.” After signing in full, Hemingway adds a lengthy typed postscript, which he signs “EH.” In part: “I had a big slump of black-ass [i.e., depression] a couple of months after I got smashed up in Uganda. But that was caused by lots of definitely damaged parts. Anyway am all over black time and am writing well. What I have to do now is be ruthless about seeing people that waste my time and train hard and get plenty of exercise. Also not drink with shits because they bore you and you can’t take them any other way…. I don’t want to get in any correspondence because am being ruthless about letters too. But if you’re still in the slump in the fall write me and tell me how old you are, marital status, whether you drink etc., and I’ll give you as good advice as I can.” The original recipient, Harold Livingston, was then a struggling novelist who had begun a correspondence with the famed writer. Livingston went on to a career as a screenwriter, producing scripts for the television series Mission: Impossible and, most famously, the screenplay to Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Accompanied by a copy of a letter of provenance from Livingston. In very good condition, with numerous folds, wrinkling, tape remnants to reverse top edge, and a few faint stains, not affecting the clear signature. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
