A review by tomhill
Hemingway in Love: His Own Story by A.E. Hotchner

3.0

3.5-- A must read for anyone interested in Hemingway's life, in particular his relationships with his first wife Hadley and his mistress turned second wife Pauline. Ernest and Hadley's relationship and their years in Paris have been the subject of numerous fictional and non-fictional accounts, including Hemingway's own memoir. Hotchner's book recounts his discussions with Hemingway, as well as relying on notes and recordings Hotchner made with Papa through the years, and very narrowly focuses on Hemingway's first two marriages and a bit on his relationships with his sons. What emerges is a complex portrait of Ernest, but one that most likely accentuates the positive. Hotchner insists that the difficult personality ascribed to Hemingway is not the personality he saw. Hem is not portrayed as a saint, but he does seem kinder and more sensitive here than he likely was in real life. Hotchner has a great advantage here in that he is telling an undeniably interesting story, but he is also a solid writer and his friendship with Hemingway lends the story a welcome familiarity. It is hard to say for certain whether Ernest truly loved Hadley above all his wives, as he claimed he did, but it makes for a nice story.