One spring evening Hemingway meets the painter Pascin at the Dôme. Hemingway finds it difficult to believe that the man in front of him is truly Ford, the great writer. Hemingway usually tries to avoid Ford because he smells so bad and speaks in a nonsensical manner. One day, Hemingway sees Ford Madox Ford there. Hemingway lives near the Closerie des Lilas café, where he sometimes sees poets such as Blaise Cendrars. After this conversation, Hemingway feels embarrassed and he curses himself for being a “dirty phony saint and martyr.” ![]() Sylvia urges him to eat and not to work too hard. ![]() However he also finds that hunger heightens his perceptions and allows him to view paintings in a more intense way. This can be difficult, as Paris is filled with cafés and bakeries serving delicious-smelling food. Hemingway is poor during his years in Paris, and thus sometimes he is forced to skip meals. The garage keeper comments that the mechanic is part of a “ génération perdue” or “lost generation.” Stein concurs, claiming that men of Hemingway’s generation who served in the war developed a nihilistic attitude and a tendency for destructive alcoholism. Stein’s car breaks down, and when she takes it to the garage she is disappointed by the mechanic’s attempt to fix it. Stein is critical of Hemingway’s literary tastes and she holds grudges against many of the people that Hemingway likes, such as Ezra Pound and James Joyce. Hemingway often goes to 27 rue de Fleurus in the afternoons, where he and Stein discuss people and literature, among other topics. He has lunch with Mike Ward, who advises him that quitting the races is a good idea. They continue betting at the races, but eventually Hemingway is concerned that “going racing” is putting a strain on their lives. They end up winning and they use the money to buy champagne and eat at Michaud’s. At first Hadley worries that they do not have enough money to bet, but they end up making an enjoyable day out of it, packing sandwiches and a bottle of wine with them. One morning Hemingway buys a racing paper and decides to go to the races. This “false spring” is “truly sad” and “frightening” to him. He notes that sometimes the weather in Paris brightens after the winter, only to turn cold and rainy again. Hemingway enjoys the walk from his apartment to the River Seine, where he strolls past stalls selling books and fishermen catching fish called goujon. Sometimes Hemingway sees James Joyce eating with his wife Nora and their two children at the expensive restaurant Michaud’s, but he cannot afford to go there himself. Hemingway admits that they clash over the issue of sexuality, due to the fact that Hemingway is somewhat sexually conservative.ĭuring his time in Paris Hemingway cannot afford to buy books, but Sylvia Beach allows him to join the rental library of Shakespeare and Company, her English-language bookshop, at a discounted rate. She is a hugely influential figure in the Parisian artistic and literary community. Stein serves as a mentor to Hemingway, advising him on writing, buying art, and other matters. ![]() He often goes to visit Gertrude Stein at her home at 27 rue de Fleurus, where she lives with her partner, Alice B. He sometimes struggles with writer’s block, but when this happens reassures himself that all he needs to do is “write one true sentence” and the rest will follow. When they return, the weather in Paris is beautiful, but still cold, and Hemingway is always hungry. Later, he goes home and makes plans to go on a trip with his wife, Hadley. He stares at the woman, and the sight of her inspires his writing. He goes to work in a café, where he sees a beautiful woman. Hemingway begins by describing the “bad weather” during the winter in Paris and the cafés filled with alcoholics.
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