What Happened to Hemingway’s Manuscripts?

What in the world happened to Ernest Hemingway’s writings? Were they lost, stolen, misplaced or just carelessly carried around until they came up missing? These are just some of the questions in the minds of the people trying to make sense of it all. There are several writers who have written tell tales about what really happened to Hemingway’s manuscripts. Each one tries to tell exactly what happened to the writings. No one really knows what happened to these works that mysteriously came up missing.

          In my opinion I’m not sure they were lost I think it was meant to be a mystery. Hemingway knew that these stories were a work of art and they were sought after by many people. I think he wanted to keep it that way. They had become famous in their time and ours. Whether someone had found them and gave them back or not, I don’t think Hemingway would have admitted that they were ever found. The mystery was kind of like a game to him and he enjoyed it. In my opinion Hemingway was a little twisted.

          Several writers have their own theories. One theory in this article is that Hemingway’s girlfriend Hadley lost the manuscripts. She was supposed to be bringing them on a trip with her when they came up missing. She is thought to have wanted to keep him under her thumb and purposely misplaced them. She was however pregnant and some believe that she had too much on her mind and may have accidentally misplaced them. Hemingway was living off of her trust fund and some people believe that she wanted to keep it that way.  It is said that although        Hemingway forgave for losing his works, he never forgot. He was extremely upset but did not show it.

           Another writer turned the lost manuscript story into a who did it mystery. He wrote that he was with Hemingway when the manuscripts were found and given back. He supposedly knows that the manuscripts had been returned and Hemingway wanted to keep them lost. He believed that they would lose their luster if found. They were great works of art if lost but may be nothing if found.

          I can see how each of these stories about the manuscripts could be pretty close to the truth. I am however skeptical about what happened to the manuscripts. The authors want you to believe that they really know what they are talking about whether they really know what happened or not. They go into great depths to tell all they know to get your mind wondering and keep it going. However it makes me wonder which of these are true? How did these writings come about missing and who may have taken them? Why didn’t Hemingway keep the manuscripts on him? Why would you entrust such works of art with someone else? These are questions that may never be answered. Only Hemingway himself knows the real truth. The rest of it is just speculation.

          Hemingway was a great writer. Maybe even the greatest writer ever. He wrote many stories and won many awards. It was a huge thing for his time to be such a great journalist and writer. He influenced many people and many looked up to him. I’m sure there are still people who admire his works and have made a career for themselves based on the work that he did. Is this important? Yes. It most definitely is important. He has shaped our writings and our theories. Made us wonder and think outside the box. I think Hemingway may have given us the greatest gift by never having the manuscripts found because people learned what it was like to think for themselves. Wondering who, what, where, why, when and how are the things that make our imaginations come to life and this is how great writing comes about.

          I found this journal analysis to be very intriguing. It made me look at things in a different light. I found my own imagination wondering where these writings went. Trying to siphon through the mysteries and figure out the: who, why, where, when and how of these manuscripts.

 References

 McFarland Ron “Recent Fictional Takes on the Lost Hemingway Manuscripts” The Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 44, No. 2, 2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc