Review of Hemingway's Daughter
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Shirley Meyer
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- Latest Review: Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead
Review of Hemingway's Daughter
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hemingway's Daughter" by Christine M. Whitehead.]
Hemingway’s Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead is a refreshing book, both historical novel and coming-of-age story, taking the original direction of introducing a fictional daughter into Ernest Hemingway’s life. It is written ostensibly by his daughter Finley, known as Finn, and affectionately as Flea. Written so convincingly that you cannot help but believe in the reality of the character, it follows her through her schooldays and adult life as she copes with her father’s fame and philandering, hoping always that he will consider her special.
Growing up between her mother’s home, her posh boarding school in Connecticut, and her father’s various homes with his various wives, Finn is exposed to the sophisticated people and the glamorous society in which he moves, but seems uncertain of her place in the world, and what she call’s ‘Papa’s romantic calamities’ have convinced her that the Hemingway family is under a curse, and she will never be able to find true love. She portrays Hemingway with compassion, if not always with sympathy, as she gradually comes to see the truth of his relationship with her.
Though this is not the sort of book that I would usually have chosen to read, I found it refreshing and completely gripping as it follows Finn’s journey towards adulthood and the fulfilment of her dreams of love, of success as a female lawyer in a time when law was a man’s world, and of having an impact on her father’s life and writing. The introduction of real people such as Zelda Fitzgerald and Jacqui Bouvier onto the pages by Christine Whitehead reinforces the authenticity of the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and his fictional daughter and the firm bond between them.
The book takes the reader through a fascinating story of love and loss, perseverance and triumph, and final vindication, and it rings with a vibrant authenticity, making it absolutely and completely believable. It reads not as fiction but as an alternative reality, one where Hemingway really did have a daughter whom he loved deeply and fully, as she gradually discovers through his rough but humorous gestures of affection and beautifully illustrated by his letters to her throughout his life. His stature as a writer is only enhanced by this peek into what could (and maybe should) have been.
I have nothing negative to say about this remarkable book and recommend it for anyone who wants a change from the run-of-the-mill fictional offerings. It is beautifully written, well edited, and wonderfully captivating, and I have no problem giving it a 4 out of 4 stars rating.
******
Hemingway's Daughter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Hemingway’s Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead is a refreshing book, both historical novel and coming-of-age story, taking the original direction of introducing a fictional daughter into Ernest Hemingway’s life. It is written ostensibly by his daughter Finley, known as Finn, and affectionately as Flea. Written so convincingly that you cannot help but believe in the reality of the character, it follows her through her schooldays and adult life as she copes with her father’s fame and philandering, hoping always that he will consider her special.
Growing up between her mother’s home, her posh boarding school in Connecticut, and her father’s various homes with his various wives, Finn is exposed to the sophisticated people and the glamorous society in which he moves, but seems uncertain of her place in the world, and what she call’s ‘Papa’s romantic calamities’ have convinced her that the Hemingway family is under a curse, and she will never be able to find true love. She portrays Hemingway with compassion, if not always with sympathy, as she gradually comes to see the truth of his relationship with her.
Though this is not the sort of book that I would usually have chosen to read, I found it refreshing and completely gripping as it follows Finn’s journey towards adulthood and the fulfilment of her dreams of love, of success as a female lawyer in a time when law was a man’s world, and of having an impact on her father’s life and writing. The introduction of real people such as Zelda Fitzgerald and Jacqui Bouvier onto the pages by Christine Whitehead reinforces the authenticity of the relationship between Ernest Hemingway and his fictional daughter and the firm bond between them.
The book takes the reader through a fascinating story of love and loss, perseverance and triumph, and final vindication, and it rings with a vibrant authenticity, making it absolutely and completely believable. It reads not as fiction but as an alternative reality, one where Hemingway really did have a daughter whom he loved deeply and fully, as she gradually discovers through his rough but humorous gestures of affection and beautifully illustrated by his letters to her throughout his life. His stature as a writer is only enhanced by this peek into what could (and maybe should) have been.
I have nothing negative to say about this remarkable book and recommend it for anyone who wants a change from the run-of-the-mill fictional offerings. It is beautifully written, well edited, and wonderfully captivating, and I have no problem giving it a 4 out of 4 stars rating.
******
Hemingway's Daughter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Hemingway's Daughter by Christine M. Whitehead
