r/Hemingway

I am wanting to get this book to read. I see that some of his other works have "Library Editions" which apparently include early drafts and supplementary material. I am wondering if these are like the definitive editions that I should strive to get.

It doesn't appear that Garden of Eden has one such edition, but I do see that there are a handful of different covers for the same novel. Is the material included the same for all of these different versions? Or should I focus on trying to get one in particular for added material?

Starting with the caveat that I’m a fan of Hemingway and I’ve read and enjoyed most of his work including the short stories. I’ve always put off Green Hills of Africa since it’s generally considered one of his worst but I recently picked it up.

Currently about 2/3rds of the way through it and the first thing that struck me was how often stories are framed as people clamoring for him to go on long diatribes about topics and him getting annoyed.(Kandinsky and various locals spring to mind)

What really struck me is what he leaves out and what he forgets to leave out. The other characters are constantly calling him out for boasting about how good of a bird shot he is when he’s drunk and a few other things.

The little comments they make are funny and humanize him in a way but it destroys the illusion he tries to convey that everyone is clamoring for his insight and approval. I can see why he leaves these drunken ramblings out but it completely changes the dynamic of how other characters are responding to him and their behavior in general.

I just came to another scene where they meet some villagers and Pop is having a conversation with them

. Hem is constantly interjecting and asking Pop to translate nonsense and Hemingway doesn’t seem to notice how clearly annoying this is to Pop.

Altogether, it just makes a tough read even tougher because you have to get through so much pensive and articulate dialogue that a person wouldn’t actually ever say and ignore so much of what is clearly happening.

It’s possible that he meant for the reader to see through this but from what we know of him alienating all of his friends at the time, I don’t think he had the self awareness for that.

Papa himself gave me the idea in the disclaimer, where he says everyone in the book is real. He said that if there's not enough of a love story, the reader is free to insert their own love interest.

Well, it seems that Hem hardly calls his wife by her name in this book - it's always "my wife," or POM. In which case, I can just imagine that she's someone else. Hadley, even. Or myself, teehee.

Alright, let's goooooo. I like Hem's style so much that I don't care what he writes about - I'll read it. He can rant about women's underwear, for all I care. I can't wait to hear all his crazy takes on writing and the Gulf Stream and on life.