Beschreibung:

HEMINGWAY, Ernest. Autograph letter signed ("Hem") to the writer John Herrmann in Erwinna, Pa.; written from Piggott, Arkansas, 26 September [1928]. 3 pages, 4to, in blue ink on two sheets of ecru laid paper, usual fold creases, with the stamped envelope hand-addressed by Hemingway and with his signature in the return address ; in fine condition. "ACTION DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE PLACE WITHOUT TAKING PLACE SOMEWHERE" A fine early letter in which Hemingway praises the literary efforts of Herrmann and his wife Josephine Herbst and gives advice on writing. Hemingway had met the two fellow American writers in Paris in 1924 and the three became friends. Herrmann's first book, What Happens , was published in Paris by Contact Editions in 1927. "Hope Jo got the wire about her book [ Nothing Is Sacred , published in 1928] -- I had a hell of a time to get it to her in time as I was up in the mts. in Wyo[ming] working like a bastard [on A Farewell to Arms ] and my mail was sent somewhere else by mistake...Have the 1st draft of my book done now [ A Farewell to Arms ] -- also a new son named Pat[rick] -- weights 16½ lbs. at 3 mos...Hope Jo's book will go big -- but no book goes big when you need it -- only afterwards when you don't need it and it doesn't mean a damn thing -- You are a hell of a good writer. Every once in a while I read your stuff again and it has only one fault -- kick my ass if you want at this point -- What Happens (with or without capitals) is always damned fine but you let it happen in a vacuum sometimes -- you could just as easily make it happen somewhere , make the place as well as the people and and [sic] action. Then you would knock them all for a row of cesspools. Maybe I wrote you this before. I thought about it and meant to and if I did kick me again in the same place. You see what I mean -- that action does not want to take place without taking place somewhere -- you must make the place too -- don't mean just descriptions -- make it. You are a good writer and can make bums out of all of them if you will do that..." "You are a better writer than Jo because you have more talent -- (Don't for God's sake tell her this -- She has talent enough God knows) -- you both are honest as hell and when see you doing this -- (leaving out the place where it happens) -- tell you as though you were a boxer who did not keep his jaw covered against a hook. But as I say kick me -- nobody has any business telling anybody...anything...She knows how I liked her book from the wire I hope...We just got in last night -- Have driven 9200 miles -- not so bad for an old expatriate..." Not in Letters , ed. C. Baker, and presumably unpublished.