I was reading the Guide to the Alvah Bessie Papers today when I came across a diamond in the rough: A copy of a single letter from Ernest Hemingway to Milton Wolff, circa 1940.
I figured this letter would be friendly, but that notion was deep-sixed after just one sentence. Hemingway begins by saying, “I won’t try to explain how conceited, confused, and stupid your letter was.” Apparently Wolff disparaged Hemingway in an earlier letter, which, as far as I can tell, is not in ALBA. It is apparent from the rest of Hemingway’s letter that Wolff called Hemingway a “rooter” as opposed to a fighter, and criticized For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Hemingway took these criticisms very hard, yet he has no particular response to the idea that he was a “rooter” or to any criticism leveled against For Whom the Bell Tolls. In his anger Hemingway proceeds to reiterate his own credentials and assassinate the character of Wolff, rather than employ any logical argument.
In response to the charge that he was a “rooter” Hemingway asks, “…given what experience I have and what talents I may possess what would you like me to have done to aid the cause of the Spanish Republic that I did not do?” and he takes the issue no further, seeming uncertain about it himself. Hemingway also says, “…I was in wars, commanded troops, was wounded etc before you were dry behind the ears. So don’t give me the old soldier talking to the non-combatant.”
Seemingly in defense of For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemingway says to Wolff, “At the time the book deals with you did not know Marx from your ass…” Hemingway punctuates the letter with statements like “…we are not friends any more…” and “I always thought you were a great guy and now I think you are a prick.” Regardless of what Wolff said, Hemingway comes off like a bitter four year old, and all of his points seem irrelevant to any meaningful, logical discourse.
This falling out makes me wonder intensely what Wolff had to say, and also makes me wonder if the vehemence and irrationality of Hemingway’s response were inspired by feelings of conflict or guilt about his behavior during the war.
Citation
Hemingway, Ernest: Letter to Milton Wolff (typed copy), 1940; Alvah Bessie Papers; ALBA 24; box 5; folder 32
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
The topic of the conflicted relationship between Hemingway and the Lincoln vets is fascinating. Many of the vets hated the way they were portrayed (or not portrayed) in For Whom the Bell Tolls, and there was a huge controversy among the veterans of the ALB over whether or not to include Hemingway in an anthology of SCW writing put together by VALB. I have many references for this if you're interested.
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