A Moveable Feast

Today we were at the Kennedy Library for a panel discussion about the newly "remastered" Hemingway book, A Moveable Feast. What ho? you ask. Wasn't A Moveable Feast published in the mid-sixties. Well, yes.

And now it's published again, both times by Scribner's. The second publishing is at the behest of some of Hemingway's heirs. This summer there was an op-ed in the New York Times from the former editor of the ur-book, A.E. Hotchner, who had his own take on the remastering.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/opinion/20hotchner.html

I hadn't realized that the Kennedy library houses much Hemingway memorabilia and several of his manuscripts.

There are at least two sides to every issue, but all I can say is that as a writer, I wouldn't want any relatives mucking about in my old manuscripts, making "a" look better than "b." Or dis F. Scott Fitzgerald or Ford Maddox Ford. Writers are a competitive bunch, and of course 'papa' was a man's man and probably more competitive than most.

Today the discussion was lively and some of the questions sprightly or learned. I don't know that there is a consensus. I dug my ancient copy out and will reread it.

Oddly enough, I still remember that when I heard news of Hemingway's death I was standing in my parent's kitchen in Denver.

I have a very old book called The Little Review Anthology that has a wonderful Hemingway short story. Think I'll dig that out, too. No wonder my nightstand always has these towers of books, perilously teetering this way and that.

Onward,

Grapeshot

Sucking It Up is a Universal Experience

Proust, Joyce, and others have had to suck it up, too. Even F. Scott Fitzgerald.

http://www.columbusalive.com/?sec=upfront&story=alive/2007/1206/u-mental.html

I don't compare myself to them, novelist of computer crime as I am, but it's nice to be in good company.

Grapeshot

Recipe en route, as well as photos of last night's broccoli-mushroom quiche. So stop by again soon.

Tonight it the party at the local mystery book store (Kate's) and I'm taking a lovely appetizer.

Grapeshot