The Letters of Ernest Hemingway: Volume 6, 1934–1936

Hemingway's letters constitute a rich, continuous portrait of the artist. Never intended for publication, the letters record immediate experiences that inspired Hemingway's art, afford insight into his creative process, trace the development of works in progress, and express his candid assessments of his own work and that of his contemporaries.

The Letters of Ernest Hemingway, Volume 6 (June 1934–June 1936) traces the completion and publication of Hemingway''s experimental nonfiction book Green Hills of Africa and work on stories including ''The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber'' and ''The Snows of Kilimanjaro.'' In more than twenty pieces in Esquire, he relates his hunting and fishing exploits, discusses writing and writers, and becomes more politically vocal, addressing topical concerns. During this period he immerses himself in big game fishing off Key West, Cuba, and Bimini, gathering specimens for scientific study and making record catches, as well as taking on boxing challengers. He maintains longstanding literary friendships, advises and helps aspiring writers and contemporary artists, and makes public his disdain of critics. Volume 6 also features for the first time an Appendix of Earlier Letters (1918–1934) that have come to light since publication of previous volumes. Writing his epistolary autobiography, Hemingway himself reveals the many and sometimes contradictory facets of his wide-ranging genius.