![HEMINGWAY, ERNEST. TYPED LETTER SIGNED TWICE ("ERNEST" AND "E. HEMINGWAY") TO NATHAN WILLIAM DAVIS, N.D. [CA. 17 JUNE 1942] 12 PAGE, 4TO, ON FINCA VIGIA STATIONERY, WITH ORIGINAL ENVELOPE BEARING CUBAN CENSORSHIP STAMP. SIGNED IN PENCIL.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2013/NYR/2013_NYR_02751_0151_000(hemingway_ernest_typed_letter_signed_twice_to_nathan_william_davis_nd082617).jpg?w=1)
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HEMINGWAY, ERNEST. TYPED LETTER SIGNED TWICE ("ERNEST" AND "E. HEMINGWAY") TO NATHAN WILLIAM DAVIS, N.D. [CA. 17 JUNE 1942] 12 PAGE, 4TO, ON FINCA VIGIA STATIONERY, WITH ORIGINAL ENVELOPE BEARING CUBAN CENSORSHIP STAMP. SIGNED IN PENCIL.
"DON'T REPEAT THESE REMARKS AS I AM NOT ANTI-SEMITIC; ONLY ANTI-BLOCK"
A fiery, frustrated Hemingway vents his anger against a publisher--Block--whose frustrated plans to publish a Spanish translation of The Sun Also Rises in Mexico provoked a "series of insulting letters" to Hemingway. Block claimed "I sold him something that I did not own etc. His rotten Jew sould [sic] had it twisted finally into a plot I had to gyp him...The bastard insisted (under Mexican law) he was going to publish Sun Also whether I liked it or not." Hemingway tells Davis he had returned Block's advance and wanted Davis (who lived in Mexico City) to send a telegram to Block ending their relations. "I expect the next thing will be for Block to sue me claiming I have stolen his foreskin. Don't repeat these remarks as I am not anti-semitic; only anti-block." He "would give 500 U.S. currency to be able to have five minutes alone with him in a locked room. Well things will catch up with him finally and if things don't sooner or later I will. Some place where there aint too much law."
The anti-Semitic remarks that pepper Hemingway's letters have long been a source of controversy. He occasionally signed letters "Hemingstein" because, as biographer Kenneth Lynn wrote, "he was enough of an anti-Semite to find Jewish names funny just because they were Jewish." He would often try to soften or excuse his prejudice--as he does here--as crude humor or mere verbal excess. But clearly he had a problem: whenever an adversary happened to be Jewish, Hemingway never failed to emphasize it. After World War II he became more self-conscious about such language. He told Robert Frost, for example, that he "detested" Ezra Pound's anti-Semitism (yet opposed Pound's prosecution for treason). Ironically, the recipient of this letter was himself Jewish. NOT PUBLISHED.
"DON'T REPEAT THESE REMARKS AS I AM NOT ANTI-SEMITIC; ONLY ANTI-BLOCK"
A fiery, frustrated Hemingway vents his anger against a publisher--Block--whose frustrated plans to publish a Spanish translation of The Sun Also Rises in Mexico provoked a "series of insulting letters" to Hemingway. Block claimed "I sold him something that I did not own etc. His rotten Jew sould [sic] had it twisted finally into a plot I had to gyp him...The bastard insisted (under Mexican law) he was going to publish Sun Also whether I liked it or not." Hemingway tells Davis he had returned Block's advance and wanted Davis (who lived in Mexico City) to send a telegram to Block ending their relations. "I expect the next thing will be for Block to sue me claiming I have stolen his foreskin. Don't repeat these remarks as I am not anti-semitic; only anti-block." He "would give 500 U.S. currency to be able to have five minutes alone with him in a locked room. Well things will catch up with him finally and if things don't sooner or later I will. Some place where there aint too much law."
The anti-Semitic remarks that pepper Hemingway's letters have long been a source of controversy. He occasionally signed letters "Hemingstein" because, as biographer Kenneth Lynn wrote, "he was enough of an anti-Semite to find Jewish names funny just because they were Jewish." He would often try to soften or excuse his prejudice--as he does here--as crude humor or mere verbal excess. But clearly he had a problem: whenever an adversary happened to be Jewish, Hemingway never failed to emphasize it. After World War II he became more self-conscious about such language. He told Robert Frost, for example, that he "detested" Ezra Pound's anti-Semitism (yet opposed Pound's prosecution for treason). Ironically, the recipient of this letter was himself Jewish. NOT PUBLISHED.