Ernest Hemingway

Date of Birth: July 21, 1899

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: July 2, 1961

Biography

Ernest Hemingway, one of the most esteemed American novelists and short-story writers of the 20th century, was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois. He spent much of his early life in Michigan, developing a love for the outdoors that would influence much of his later writing. Hemingway began his career as a journalist before volunteering as an ambulance driver in World War I. His experiences in the war greatly influenced his perspective and writing style. Hemingway’s first novel, “The Sun Also Rises” (1926), established him as a key figure in literature. His economical and understated style, which he termed the “Iceberg Theory,” became his hallmark. He continued to write numerous classics, including “A Farewell to Arms” (1929), “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (1940), and “The Old Man and the Sea” (1952), the latter of which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. Hemingway lived a life full of adventure, from hunting in Africa to fishing in the Caribbean and residing in Paris, Cuba, and Key West. His work often reflected his own experiences, blending fiction with autobiographical elements. Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his mastery of the narrative art.

5 Interesting Facts about Ernest Hemingway

1. Hemingway was an ambulance driver on the Italian front during World War I and was seriously wounded, which profoundly influenced his writing.

2. He was part of the “Lost Generation” of expatriated American writers living in Paris in the 1920s.

3. Hemingway was an avid sportsman and adventurer, enjoying activities such as hunting, fishing, and bullfighting, which often featured in his writing.

4. He survived two plane crashes in Africa in 1954, sustaining injuries that affected him for the rest of his life.

5. Hemingway’s distinctive writing style, characterized by economy and understatement, has had a lasting influence on 20th-century literature.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ernest Hemingway

1. “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”

2. “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

3. “Courage is grace under pressure.”

4. “All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened.”

5. “Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Hemingway’s net worth was estimated to be around $1.4 million, which would be significantly higher when adjusted for inflation today.

Children

Ernest Hemingway had three children from his four marriages: 1. John Hadley Nicanor “Jack” Hemingway (1923–2000) with his first wife, Hadley Richardson. 2. Patrick Hemingway (born 1928) with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. 3. Gregory Hancock Hemingway (1931–2001) with his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer.