Hadley’s Response to A Moveable Feast
I’ve missed Hadley, haven’t you? I am still organizing my writing from Spain but I thought I would share another audio clip with you in the meantime.
I’ve often thought about Hadley’s response to A Moveable Feast. Hadley was 73 years old when the book came out in 1964. Ernest’s beautiful memoir describes the innocence and wonder of their marriage 40 years earlier, a haunting record of an enchanted time and place. And yet, how odd it must have been for Hadley to hold this book in her hands, to read it.
Ernest had been gone for 3 years, and so were many other people in the book – F Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and Pauline Pfeiffer – were gone too. Hadley knew that Ernest was working on “The Paris book” because he contacted her to help him remember details, but I wonder if it surprised her; the tenderness, the detailed, loving tribute to the days and nights they lived together in a world that must have seemed so far away.
In this clip, Hadley and Alice talk about the book and Hadley’s response to it. I find Hadley’s comment, “You can’t write a book without calculating” fascinating. Can you make out the word in Hadley’s last sentence, “He knew I wasn’t a very – – – person.” – ? Enjoy
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”
– Ernest Hemingway
A very husky person? I suppose that could work.
I agree with Alexson. She says “a very husky person”, as far as I could hear it in my headphones. It was probably a turn of the century/ Teddy Roosevelt type of phrase. It just sounds odd to us as when Hadley comments on their “bust-up”, what we would call break up, now. Great blog as always, Allie!
I agree about the “very husky person.”
It was good to hear Hadley again,and talking about my favorite book!
“How odd it must have been for Hadley to hold this book in her hands, to read it” I always ask myself the same thing.
I love when you post things about Hadley.
I really don’t know what that “husky person” could have meant. I wonder if we will ever know for sure?. Great post Allie.
My guess is that she meant that Ernest felt she was vulnerable. (husky as in tough or having a thick shell)
Anyway it’s great to hear more Hadley.
What a sweetheart !
I stumbled upon this blog after looking for more information about Hadley after reading The Paris Wife. What a wonderful audio clip–lovely to hear her voice. It brought tears to my eyes. I’m so fascinated by their love story–Hadley growing into her own solid strength and Hemingway growing into his tragic brilliance.
I think she may have said “trusting.”
Wow! You are the first person to suggest that and I think you’re right! It would make total sense in the conversation and becasue of Hadley’s nature. Thank you for sharing that.
It is somewhat disheartening that Gioia Diliberto has it as ‘husky’ in her book, “Paris Without End” (page 225 of the 2011 edition). But I am going to stick with my guns on this one.
I heard it as “fussy.”
My guess is: He knew I wasn’t a very plausive person.
Jeannette,
Thank you for writing, “plausive” is a competely new idea! It could be, the more I listen to it, the less I’m sure what the word really is!
Allie
I gave it some thought and plausive really made sense to me, but who knows. If technology ever helps you get an answer, I would be interested in knowing what it is. I never thought I would be so fascinated by one word, but it is an important one.
Dear Jeannette,
I know what you mean about that particular word, it holds a lot of meaning. I am saving up to have the tapes professionally transcribed and I will be curious what they think. I’m sure they encounter mystery words all the time!
All the best, Allie
Absolutely lovely clip! I would love to know exactly what she said but content thinking she said “trusting”… she was a remarkable woman. Thank you for setting up this site!
Hadley does capture ones heart. Just finished reading “The Paris Wife” and immediately wanted to know what happened next. I’m so happy that I’ve found this wonderful blog. Please keep writing Allie.
Thank you Judy
It’s delightful to hear from readers like you. Welcome to “Heming-world”; once you get started learning about him, it’s hard to stop. I started with the Moveable Feast, where I fell in love with Hadley, Ernest the young writer, and Paris – all at once! I know you will enjoy your research –
Fondly, Allie
Thanks so much for posting these interviews. I have enjoyed them (and your site) so much. Yes. I agree. “he knew that I wasn’t a very husky person.” Meaning – that she wasn’t a very tough on the inside – her feelings were fragile.
Thanks for your comment Kevin, isn’t Hadley fascinating? She must have been such a good friend and companion during those five years Hadley and Hemingway were together. Her sense of humor, intelligence, and word play is still fresh and interesting in these tapes – I can see why Hemingway missed her the rest of her life.
Thank you for reading Kevin, welcome to “Heiming-world”!
Fondly, Allie
It is ‘husky’ alright. The problem people have with it is not with its enunciation but its meaning, which assuming contemporary usage would not make sense in the context of the conversation. But, I think ‘husky’ in the usage of the time, probably meant ‘strong’ or ‘virile’ as in a ‘husky man’. And, therefore all she was saying was that he knew I was delicate and vulnerable, unlike the strong and robust Pauline.
Think she means she wasn’t a very brave person.
This won’t download, where can I listen to it?
Hi Charles,
Thank you for reading the blog, and thank you for letting me know that the Hadley Audio clips are not working. I have made a few calls and hopefully the audio will be back up in a day or two. I will let you know; I promise that Hadley’s conversation and recollections are work waiting for!
Fondly, Allie
I would love to hear this clip but it seems to have vanished. Can you repost it?
Hi Anne,
Thank you for letting me know! I will try to repost it, it may take day or two, but I’ll work on it!
Thank you, Allie
Dear Anne, After all this time, I finally got the audio clip attached again because my son (who is much more technical than am) helped me. It is still difficult to hear, but worth playing a few times until you hear it all. Enjoy!
Allie
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