An evening with Hadley

Tonight I listened to the third of twenty one tapes of conversation between Alice Hunt Sokoloff and Hadley. I am not actually sure how Hadley referred to herself, but her full name might be Elizabeth Hadley Richardson Hemingway Mowrer. The conversations took place in the winter of 1971 and 72, when Hadley was 80 years old, if I am correct. Becasue they were recorded on cassette, the tapes are scratchy and garbled in some places and there is often background noise. Despite these minor flaws, they are absolutely wonderful to listen to. For the past three evenings I’ve been spellbound by the voices of Hadley and her friend Alice. I wanted to share some of my impressions with you.

The conversation is informal and friendly with breaks for tea and it sounds like cigaretttes too. (You can hear matches being struck). Alice starts with questions from Hadley’s early life. Hadley seems to enjoy talking and reminiscing and being asked about herself. Alice is supportive as she asks questions and clarifies information. Their conversation really rambles, but Alice does a wonderful job of nudging the conversation back along chronological lines. It rambles so much, in fact, that Hadley jokes as she returns to the questions, where were we, Paris, Italy? I am really struck by the vocabularies of both women and by how often they refer to a book or a piece of classical music in a way that we seldom hear now.

As the conversation opens, Hadley and Alice are looking at photos. Hadley clearly enjoys seeing photos of Jack. In the first two tapes Hadley talks about her childhood, playing piano, childhood pets, elementary school, falling out of a window as a child, the Blackman family, and meeting Ernest. In the third tape, Hadley starts to relax and make jokes more often as she talks about meeting Ernest and their courtship and wedding. She says that his letters were “full of plans for our future. It was very exciting.” She also describes the Italian army cape he brought home with him, “He had this marvelous black army cape. He was very dazzling.” At one point in the conversation she says that she and Ernest almost had a fight because he wanted to be adored like a King, but she responds to him that ‘She wouldn’t have adored anything less.” She goes on to say that he “could have been a King . . . because he’s a spectacular figure.” When Alice asks Hadley if Ernest longed for power, Hadley adds with great flair not skipping a beat: “. . . and high estate!”

Other highlights include the story of going to a Stravinsky concert and Ernest’s voice booming out, “I like my Stravinsky straight!”during a pause in the music. She mentions that although everyone thinks of fishing and hunting, Ernest was ‘mad’ about ballet and opera. Towards the end of the third tape, Hadley describes cutting her hair before leaving for Paris. It was her first Bob, a “Pineapple”, which she thought was extremely unbecoming. “I was not fit for competition” she muses. Later, a man comes in the room and she asks “Is there a letter from Jack?” and then I think she says (but I’m not sure) damnit!

I would love to post some of the highlights of these tapes here on the blog. So far, I haven’t figured out how to do it. If anyone out there can offer technical support, I would very much appreciate it. In the meantime, I will share Hadley’s words as they move along through her years in Paris with Ernest. Of course, we all know how the story turns out, but what a privilege to hear an intelligent and remarkable woman like Hadley look back on her life and share it. Hadley must have been a wonderful companion, she is so warm and funny. No wonder Ernest missed her so much!

These tapes belong to the Ernest Hemingway Collection/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

April 7th, 2010

Filed under: Alice Hunt Sokoloff , Hadley , Hadley Tapes 2