“The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway #44

There is little that can make a man feel more worthless than for his wife to know that he is a coward. Francis Macomber is one such man. He and his wife Margaret have come down to Africa on safari, with Robert Wilson being their guide and professional hunter. They thought it would be fun, something different. Besides, Francis was thirty-five, very fit, and had set a number of big-game fishing records. Hunting shouldn’t have been a problem for Francis. But, fishing isn’t even close to the same as hunting a lion.

From reading Hemingway’s "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" I knew a little bit of what to expect here. Like the prior story, this one takes place in Africa, with much of the dialog between a husband and wife couple, and laced with a significant amount of questionable language. There is the additional dynamic of the story having a third major character in the form of Robert, and I also found the examination of male cowardliness to be of significant interest. I had never seen it tackled like this before. One particularly enjoyable facet of this work were the hunting scenes. The descriptions of the hunting were exciting, and really drew me into this piece. Perhaps that is the reason that I enjoyed this story more than the one I hade reviewed earlier. I do recommend it, but it is important to note that this is a very graphic story so reader discretion is advised. You can find this work in The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition.

Content Advisory: Blood and Gore, Foul Language, Violence, Sexual Situations

“The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemingway #34

Harry is laying on a cot next to his wife Helen, waiting to die. Helen doesn’t want to hear any of it, but it is undeniable. The vultures are circling nearby, waiting for his demise. Nearby, he can see the snowcapped peak of Kilimanjaro. As he lay there, Harry reflects on his life, all the women he had been with in Paris, and all the stories he hadn’t had the opportunity to write. He was only waiting to learn more about life so he could write those pieces more competently, but now, he cannot. Helen, the voice of reassurance, keeps reminding him that the plane will be here soon to take him to the hospital. 

I had first been introduced to this story by watching Gregory Peck’s portrayal of Harry in the 1952 movie. So when I started this story, I knew Harry was one messed up guy. Despite his train wreck of a life, I did find the narrative intriguing with its multiple flashbacks to Harry’s past. I found it interesting to see how his past choices led him to where he is now. I can’t help but wonder how his character would have changed if he was a more moral person. It can’t be helped now though. Despite my interest in this work, I can’t give it a full recommendation because, what can I say, Harry is a disaster. You can read this story in various Hemingway collections, including The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition.

Content Advisory: Blood and Gore, Drunkenness, Foul Language, Sexual Situations, Violence