TLS twice-signed “Papa,” two onionskin pages, 8.25 x 12, July 26, 1949. Letter to good friend and writer Peter Viertel. In part, with spelling and grammar retained: “Italy was fine. Mary had a wonderful time. I did too and was getting in good shape (really) when got socked by that infection. Had been shooting duck and getting out to the blinds in a 55 mile wind got hit in the corner of the eye with a fishing pole when the boat when broadside (0400) Lots of fat fine ducks flying like hell and shot 65 with 120 shells Didn’t pay any attention to eye and may have got some wad in it or dust…Anyway got straphlococcus infection in left eye and it ran into Erysipelus. Had to have 13 million units of Penicil…Had general check up at Padova and had reduced blood pressure…Weighed 206…Got down to 200 since here…So hope to kick the shit out of Irwin or any of those jerks bookikly, physically or how they want it. Was 50 last Thursday…About where to go in the winter am sad s.o.b. if know. This joint costs about $500 and up a month to run. I’ll be running out of dough before Xmas…On staying here: have good boat and good fishing…Elicin Arguelles…has a new piece of land down in Pinar del Rio and a good duck shoot. We can shoot 25-50 ducks a day there anytime Probably shoot it three times dureing the season…There is great dove shooting here…I love the flight shooting on doves. You really get some shooting and every kind of shot. So as far as shooting goes I would stay here this winter; work and shoot. But that ain’t ski-ing and you guys want ski-ing and Mary loves it too. But this year I feel like a dope to leave if am working good and not stale…we had stayed away from Cuba to be in Sun Valley for the ski-ing and had no snow…lost two damned winters straight out of my life except for meeting you guys at Ketchum. Shot some ducks. But I kill four ducks in four seconds if they are flying and then what…Also we can shoot all the birds we want at the Club now. They are bringing down fast birds from Philadelphia by Air-freight and they fly like jets…Don’t want to try to sell you guys on Cuba. Am just listing what we have to offer. There isn’t any ski-ing though. And I know what ski-ing can mean to anybody.” Hemingway signed at the conclusion of the letter as well as at the end of the postscript, and wrote a correction in the margin of the first page, “Next day.” Several horizontal folds, a few creases, scattered wrinkles, a few small tears to the top border, and fragile edges, otherwise fine condition. The “Irwin” he refers to is Irwin Shaw, who had released The Young Lions in 1948, a book in which he not-so-subtly based some characters upon Hemingway and his family—and the dispute did eventually result in a semi-violent confrontation between the authors at a social event in New York. Given today’s legacy of the two authors, it’s safe to say that Hemingway succeeded and beat Shaw “physically” as well as “bookikly.” A terrific letter that encompasses all that Hemingway is known as—a writer, hunter, and drinker chock-full of bravado. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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