This gorgeous brutality
Ernest and Hadley had been married just three months when they stepped aboard the Leopoldina in December of 1921, their sights set on Paris. The ship was old but they must have felt new – the day before their ship sailed, Hadley cut her long golden-red hair into a “bob”. They arrived in Paris just before Christmas. How could they know they were about to meet some of the most famous artists and writers of the twentieth century? While Paris offered every imaginable cultural and artistic experience, it was the wild countryside of Spain that captured Hemingway’s imagination – trout streams and gypsies, plazas noisy with dancing and music. Gertrude Stein was the first to suggest that Hemingway go to Pamplona and he saw his first bullfights there in 1923. Hadley sat next to him glowing with pregnancy, stitching clothes for Bumby, who would be named after one of the bullfighters Hadley admired. Bullfighting appears in Hemingway’s first novel, The Sun Also Rises and years later in Death In The Afternoon.
Ernest was not the only one stirred by the passions of the bullfight; listen to Hadley reminisce about the atmosphere of fiesta:
These tapes belong to the Ernest Hemingway Collection/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston
Allie,
If I had those recordings, I am not sure I’d sleep much. I’d want to listen all the time. How wonderful to hear Hadley talk about her adventures in Pamplona!! Thanks so much for sharing what you have,and I hope you can share even more of these precious recordings. Hadley must have been quite the lady!
An extraordinary experience hearing about the legendary trips to Pamplona from Hadley herself. Wow! Allie, you’ve outdone yourself! Thank you again. The best Hemingway site out there, bar none.
Bravo!! More Hadley! Bravo!! More recordings, please???
wow its really fun to hear Hadley talk about this. I hope to go to Spain one day to watch the bullfights myself.
Allie,
I agree with with Joe. Your site is by far the best Hemingway site there is ! Thanks for bringing this great material to us.
You can hear the sweetness and intelligence in Hadley’s voice! It’s interesting to hear about bullfighting from her experience, her own perspective as an young American wife witnessing bullfighting. Thank you, Allie, for keeping Hemingway and Hadley fans entertained and informed:)
What a great little interview and I love that last line, ” my how that boy can feel.”
Have to search out more of these gems…thanks Allie for this gem.
Thank you Jim,
Hadley tells some great stories about those early years in France and Spain. Her wit is still fresh and funny and her stories are unforgettable – thanks for reading!
Allie
I realize I’m quite late in finding your blog and so disappointed that the audio recordings are apparently no longer available? Are they somewhere else on the internet? Or have I just not found the right place to listen to them? Thanks.
Hi Sue, I double checked for you and yes, it does work. If you press the arrow to hear the audio, it takes a moment to start. When it does start to play, it is at a low volume, most likely because it was originally recorded on cassette. The content of the audio clip is worth your patience. Enjoy!