"I know what I am doing and need no defence ... I actively dislike all the non-combatants and camp followers of the arts"

Hemingway, Ernest, American writer and Nobel Laureate (1899-1961). Autograph letter signed.

€ 12,500.00

To Arnold Gingrich in New York, following their chance first meeting at House of Books. While in New York, Hemingway had met Gingrich on the 20th of January at House of Books, run by Capt. Louis Henry Cohn. Hemingway had gone there to discuss a limited edition of his story "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen", which Cohn was to publish in April. Quite by accident, Gingrich was also at House of Books, to purchase (for $75) a copy of Hemingway's "Three Stories and Ten Poems". Now back home in Key West, Hemingway writes: "It was a great pleasure to meet you and I was only sorry that I had to leave to get to the hotel to pack [...] Anytime you send the book I will be glad to write in it. [...] That Capt. Cohn is a strange bird. He will write, wire, bother, pester and drive you for something until you give it in order to be let alone but when I finally give him a hell of a good story [see above] he never even writes to acknowledge it. (The way of a bibliographer in the air) I hope to Christ he won't go around defending me against adverse reviews - a role he was outlining as you came in. I know what I am doing and need no defence. I don't mind attacks. If they have any truth I learn something from them and if they are all wrong they don't worry me [...] I respect you [...] But I do not respect and actively dislike all the non-combatants and camp followers of the arts [...]".