FL History 1899-1999 Early 1800s
Famous Floridians: Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway’s writings and his personal life had a great influence on American writers. Many of his
works are regarded as classics of American literature. Hemingway chose Key West, Florida for his home.
As a boy near Chicago, Hemingway was taught by his father to hunt and fish. He became a sporting
man, a man who could survive in nature. Throughout his life he had a love of hunting, fishing, and
adventure. He drew heavily on those experiences in his writing.
Hemingway began his writing career as a reporter. He left that job within a few months to serve as an
American Red Cross ambulance driver during World War I. Despite a boyhood eye injury that prevented
him from fighting, Hemingway entered danger as deeply as he could. His war experiences also provided
material for much of his fiction.
After the war, Hemingway served as a war correspondent and then settled in Paris. Hemingway heard
about Key West from a friend. On the way back from Paris, he stopped at the tiny Florida island. He
soon discovered that life in remote Key West was like living in a foreign country while still perched on
the southernmost tip of America.
Hemingway loved it. “It’s the best
place I’ve ever been anytime,
anywhere, flowers, tamarind trees,
guava trees, coconut palms.…”
Hemingway spent long periods of
time in Key West, and in Spain and
Africa. During the Spanish Civil
War (1936-1939), he returned to
Spain as a newspaper correspondent.
He loved Spain and bullfighting—
most anything that made his heart
pound. In World War II he again was
a correspondent and later was a
Ernest Hemingway at work. reporter for the Army.
Hemingway was one of the most noted authors to focus on the time between the two world wars. He
wrote about two types of people. One type, disillusioned by war, lived for their own interests and
needs. The other type consisted of men of simple character, such as prizefighters and bullfighters.
Hemingway wrote of their courageous battles. A number of his books have been made into movies. In
1899-1999
1952, Hemingway
published The Old Man Key West
and the Sea. It was about an Our knowledge of Key West’s colorful past begins with its discovery by Ponce
old Cuban fisherman. The de Leon in 1513. The island was first known as Cayo Hueso (Isle of Bones)
old man had not been because it was littered with remains from an Indian battlefield or burial ground.
“Key West” is the English version of the Spanish term.
catching much. This time
he caught a huge fish. He In the early days, the “Keys” or “small islands” were exchanged back and forth
battled for the fish with between Spain and England. In 1821, the Keys, with all of Florida, became
sharks. Hemingway won part of American territory.
the Pulitzer Prize in fiction
for this short novel. In In 1822, the Navy first established a presence in Key West. The Navy was
charged with ridding the area of pirates. The city grew and prospered, based
1954, he won the Nobel first on fishing and salvaging ships wrecked on nearby reefs, and later on cigar
Prize in literature. manufacturing. By 1890, Key West was the largest and richest city in Florida,
but after the turn of the century, it was in decline.
Hemingway wrote, “Each
book should be a new In the early 1900s, the “Overseas Highway” was constructed to Key West.
beginning where he (the Today, it consists of 126 miles of road, with over 40 bridges connecting the
author) tries again for tiny islands.
something that is beyond Visitors to Key West can discover a past of pirates, treasure hunters, and a
attainment.” Ernest rich military presence. They can visit the Ernest Hemingway home and
Hemingway, the museum. The colonial style mansion is where he wrote many of his most
adventurer, approached life important works.
that way.
Today over 40 descendents
of Hemingway cats live at
his former home.
