Beschreibung:

HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Two autograph letters signed to Charles Thompson in Key West; [Nordquist Ranch, Wyoming], 10 and 27 August 1932. Together 6 pages, folio, in blue ink, on 4 sheets of tan paper, a few small fold holes in last page of the first letter with loss of a couple of letters, creased from folding . HUNTING, FISHING, AND A BIT OF LIT 10 August: "...Last week we went down for sage grouse shooting -- They were thick -- Big old ones weigh 8 to 10 lbs. apiece -- nearly as big as wild turkey -- a big target but can fly faster than pheasants and can carry lead -- Found them in alfalfa fields -- one flush of over 100 -- got up at 4 a.m. But birds got up about 80 yards away -- very sly -- Later found a bunch that lay close -- young ones about size and a half of a regular ruffed grouse -- most fun shooting I've ever had -- I shot 11 in the a.m. and 7 in the afternoon -- next afternoon shot 7 again -- also shot 5 jackrabbits -- certainly wished you were there...First article in Outdoor Life for September is story of a guy who hunted from the ranch last fall...It sure will be swell to see you and to hunt. Would have given anything if you could have had that sage chicken shooting...Pauline [his wife] hit at least 4 -- She killed 4. Cripples that were running away -- one at 44 paces and several rabbits -- Rabbits were thick as grasshoppers..." 27 August: "...Will you find the box that the [Luis] Quintanilla portrait of me came in -- you know the Spanish portrait...And pack it and ship it to Maxwell E. Perkins, Charles Scribner's Sons...They want it for display. The book [ Death in the Afternoon ] comes out September 23rd. Also when you come out [to Wyoming for the hunting trip] could you bring a book that is either in lower book cases in living room but probably in my work room book case at end of room called I believe The Assault on Everest [an account of the 1922 expedition, by Gen. C.G. Bruce and others, first published London 1923] -- a large green book about climbing Mt. Everest...Had swell trip last week to Crazy Lakes -- stayed 3 nights -- caught about fifty rainbow trout from 16 to 19 inchees long. Best fly fishing I've ever had... Murphys [Gerald and Sara and two of their children] are due here Aug. 30...Tell Bra [Saunders, a Key West fishing guide] I will send him some dough as soon as I get mine from Scribners -- am still waiting for that due in August -- Am selling them three stories [for Scribner's magazine] -- will send him some out of whichever I get first...That guy Sommers turned up here with a friend and they stayed 2 nights and a day -- am afraid he's a jew. He bought an excellent bottle of gin though -- it certainly tasted good after moon[shine]..." (2)