Challenges in the Life of Ernest Hemingway in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Ernest Hemingway. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was a renowned American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His distinctive, concise writing style profoundly impacted 20th-century literature. He cultivated a persona of adventure and directness, contributing to his iconic status. He produced seven novels, six short-story collections, and two non-fiction works, many of which are considered American classics. Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954 for his literary contributions and lasting influence.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1903: Hadley's father's suicide

In 1903, Hadley's father committed suicide, an event that Hemingway reflected upon after his own father's suicide in 1928, understanding how Hadley must have felt.

1918: Wounded in World War I

In 1918, while serving as an ambulance driver on the Italian Front in World War I, Ernest Hemingway was seriously wounded by shrapnel.

1919: Readjustment after the war

In 1919, Ernest Hemingway faced a difficult time of readjustment upon returning home from the war, grappling with maturity gained from the war and the need for recuperation.

December 1922: Loss of manuscripts in train station

In December 1922, Hadley, Ernest Hemingway's wife, lost a suitcase filled with his manuscripts at the Gare de Lyon train station, devastating him.

November 1930: Car Accident and Hospitalization

In November 1930, Hemingway broke his arm in a car accident after taking Dos Passos to the train station in Billings, Montana. He was hospitalized for seven weeks, during which Pauline cared for him, and it took a year for the nerves in his writing hand to heal.

1933: Books were burned in Berlin

In 1933, Ernest Hemingway's books were burned in Berlin.

January 1938: Return to Key West

In January 1938, Hemingway returned to Key West for a few months, a frustrating time during which he found it hard to write, worried over poor reviews for 'To Have and Have Not', bickered with Pauline, followed the news from Spain, and planned his next trip.

1939: Death of William Butler Yeats and Ford Madox Ford

In 1939, William Butler Yeats and Ford Madox Ford, literary friends of Hemingway, passed away, contributing to his depression.

1940: Death of F. Scott Fitzgerald

In 1940, F. Scott Fitzgerald, a literary friend of Hemingway, passed away, contributing to his depression.

1941: Death of Sherwood Anderson and James Joyce

In 1941, Sherwood Anderson and James Joyce, literary friends of Hemingway, passed away, contributing to his depression.

1942: Out of business as a writer

From 1942 to 1945, Hemingway said he "was out of business as a writer".

March 1944: Bullying and abusive behavior towards Martha

During a visit to Cuba in March 1944, Hemingway was bullying and abusive with Martha, possibly a manifestation of the depression that eventually destroyed him.

1945: Car Accident and Injuries

In 1945, Hemingway injured his knee and sustained another head wound in a car accident.

1946: Death of Gertrude Stein

In 1946, Gertrude Stein, a literary friend of Hemingway, passed away, contributing to his depression.

1946: Marriage to Mary Welsh and Ectopic Pregnancy

In 1946, Hemingway married Mary Welsh, who had an ectopic pregnancy five months later.

1947: Patrick's car accident and diagnosis

A 1947 car accident left Patrick with a head wound, severely ill and delirious. The doctor in Cuba diagnosed schizophrenia, and sent him for 18 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy.

1947: Death of Max Perkins

In 1947, Max Perkins, Hemingway's editor and friend, passed away, contributing to his depression.

January 1954: Survives two plane crashes in Africa

In January 1954, while on a sightseeing flight in Africa, Ernest Hemingway survived two plane crashes. The first crash resulted in injuries to his back and shoulder, and the second involved him having to break open the plane door to escape.