April - "Mrs. Hemingway" by Naomi Wood - Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles

"Mrs. Hemingway" by Naomi Wood

Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
Call Number: FICTION Wood
Paula McLain's New York Times -bestselling novel piqued readers' interest about Ernest Hemingway's romantic life. But Hadley was only one of four women married, in turn, to the legendary writer. Just as T.C. Boyle's bestseller The Women completed the picture begun by Nancy Horan's Loving Frank , Naomi Wood's Mrs. Hemingway tells the story of how it was to love, and be loved by, the most famous and dashing writer of his generation. Hadley, Pauline, Martha and Mary: each Mrs. Hemingway thought their love would last forever; each one was wrong. Told in four parts and based on real love letters and telegrams, Mrs. Hemingway reveals the explosive love triangles that wrecked each of Hemingway's marriages. Spanning 1920s bohemian Paris through 1960s Cold War America, populated with members of the fabled "Lost Generation," Mrs. Heminway is a riveting tale of passion, love, and heartbreak.

Multiple Perspectives:
- The novel is structured to provide perspectives from each of Hemingway's four wives. How does this narrative choice contribute to the understanding of Hemingway's character and relationships?
Themes of Love and Betrayal:
- Discuss the recurring themes of love and betrayal in the novel. How do the marriages depicted in the story navigate these themes, and what are the consequences for the characters?
Character Motivations:
- Analyze the motivations of each wife in her relationship with Hemingway. What draws them to him, and how do their motivations evolve over time?
Hemingway's Persona:
- Explore the portrayal of Ernest Hemingway's persona in the novel. How is he depicted as a husband, a writer, and a public figure? What impact does his larger-than-life image have on his marriages?
Impact of Fame:
- Consider the impact of Hemingway's fame on his marriages. How does the attention and scrutiny affect the dynamics within each relationship?
Individual Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Examine the individual strengths and weaknesses of each wife. How do they navigate their roles as partners to a highly influential and complex figure like Hemingway?
Evolving Relationships:
- Trace the evolution of the relationships from the perspective of each wife. How do the dynamics change over time, and what patterns emerge in Hemingway's interactions with his wives?
Historical and Cultural Context:
- Discuss how the novel captures the historical and cultural context of the time periods in which the marriages take place. In what ways do external factors influence the relationships?
Writing Style:
- Naomi Wood employs a distinct writing style for each wife's section. How does the author's stylistic approach contribute to the overall narrative and characterization?
Impact on Artistic Work:
- Explore the connection between the wives and Hemingway's artistic work. How do the marriages influence Hemingway's writing, and in what ways do the wives contribute to his creative process?
Representation of Women:
- Consider the representation of women in the novel. How do the wives navigate societal expectations and constraints during their respective time periods?
Tragic Elements:
- The novel has elements of tragedy. Discuss the tragic aspects of the story and how they shape the narrative.
Comparisons between Wives:
- Compare and contrast the experiences of the four wives. In what ways are their marriages similar, and how do they differ?
Legacy and Reflections:
- Reflect on the lasting impact of the marriages on the lives of the wives. How do they view their time with Hemingway in retrospect, and what is their individual legacy?

Ernest Hemingway had four wives throughout his lifetime, and their relationships unfolded against the backdrop of significant historical events. Here's a historical timeline of each of Hemingway's wives:

1. Hadley Richardson (1891–1979)

Marriage: Hadley and Hemingway married on September 3, 1921.
1920s:
- The couple lived in Paris during the vibrant years of the "Lost Generation."
- Birth of their son, John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway (called "Bumby").
1930s:
- Hadley and Hemingway divorced in 1927.
- Hadley remarried in 1933 to Paul Mowrer, a journalist.

2. Pauline Pfeiffer (1895–1951)

Marriage: Pauline and Hemingway married on May 10, 1927.
1920s:
- Birth of their sons Gregory and Patrick.
- The couple lived in Key West and traveled to Spain.
1930s:
- The family continued to live in Key West and traveled to Africa.
- Hemingway began his involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
1940s:
- Pauline and Hemingway divorced in 1940.
- Pauline remarried to Charles Robb, a wealthy businessman.

3. Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998)

Marriage: Martha and Hemingway married on November 20, 1940.
1940s:
- Martha, an accomplished journalist, covered World War II alongside Hemingway.
- Birth of Hemingway's third son, Jack "Bumby" Hemingway.
1945:
- Hemingway and Martha divorced.

4. Mary Welsh (1908–1986)

Marriage: Mary and Hemingway married on March 14, 1946.
1940s:
- The couple lived in Cuba.
- Hemingway's novel "The Old Man and the Sea" was published.
1950s:
- Hemingway faced health issues and mental health struggles.
- The couple continued to live in Cuba and later in Idaho.
1960s:
- Hemingway received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
- The family moved to Ketchum, Idaho.
1961:
- Hemingway died by suicide on July 2, 1961.

These timelines provide a glimpse into the lives of each of Hemingway's wives, with a focus on the periods when they were married to him. It's important to note that the relationships were complex and influenced by the challenging circumstances of their time.

Naomi Wood is a British author known for her works in historical fiction. Here is a brief biography of Naomi Wood:

Early Life and Education:
- Naomi Wood's birthdate and details about her early life are not widely available in public sources.
- She pursued education in literature or related fields, laying the foundation for her career as an author.
Career Beginnings:
- Naomi Wood gained recognition with the publication of her debut novel, "The Godless Boys," in 2011.
Notable Work - "Mrs. Hemingway" (2014):
- "Mrs. Hemingway" is one of Naomi Wood's notable works. The novel explores the complex relationships between Ernest Hemingway and his four wives.
Literary Style and Themes:
- Wood is known for her historical fiction that often delves into the lives of real historical figures. Her writing explores the personal and emotional aspects of her characters against the backdrop of significant historical events.
Awards and Recognition:
- While specific awards or honors attributed to Naomi Wood might vary, her novels, including "Mrs. Hemingway," have received critical acclaim for their storytelling and historical depth.
Personal Life:
- Details about Naomi Wood's personal life, including her birthplace, family, and other personal information, are not extensively documented in publicly available sources.
Additional Works:
- Apart from "Mrs. Hemingway," Naomi Wood may have written other works. It's advisable to check her official website, literary databases, or recent sources for the most up-to-date information on her bibliography.
Continued Writing:
- Naomi Wood may have continued her writing career, and readers interested in her work are encouraged to explore any subsequent novels or projects she may have undertaken.

White Houses by Amy Bloom
Call Number: FICTION Bloom
Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, "Hick," as she's known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as "first friend" is an open secret, as are FDR's own lovers. After she takes a job in the Roosevelt administration, promoting and protecting both Roosevelts, she comes to know Franklin not only as a great president but as a complicated rival and an irresistible friend, capable of changing lives even after his death. Through it all, even as Hick's bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life. From Washington, D.C. to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan's Washington Square, Amy Bloom's new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.
Z: a Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Call Number: FICTION Fowler
With brilliant insight and imagination, Therese Anne Fowler's New York Times bestseller Z brings us Zelda's irresistible story as she herself might have told it. I wish I could tell everyone who thinks we're ruined, Look closer...and you'll see something extraordinary, mystifying, something real and true. We have never been what we seemed. When beautiful, reckless Southern belle Zelda Sayre meets F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club dance in 1918, she is seventeen years old and he is a young army lieutenant stationed in Alabama. Before long, the "ungettable" Zelda has fallen for him despite his unsuitability: Scott isn't wealthy or prominent or even a Southerner, and keeps insisting, absurdly, that his writing will bring him both fortune and fame. Her father is deeply unimpressed. But after Scott sells his first novel, This Side of Paradise, to Scribner's, Zelda optimistically boards a train north, to marry him in the vestry of St. Patrick's Cathedral and take the rest as it comes. What comes, here at the dawn of the Jazz Age, is unimagined attention and success and celebrity that will make Scott and Zelda legends in their own time. Everyone wants to meet the dashing young author of the scandalous novel--and his witty, perhaps even more scandalous wife. Zelda bobs her hair, adopts daring new fashions, and revels in this wild new world. Each place they go becomes a playground: New York City, Long Island, Hollywood, Paris, and the French Riviera--where they join the endless party of the glamorous, sometimes doomed Lost Generation that includes Ernest Hemingway, Sara and Gerald Murphy, and Gertrude Stein. Everything seems new and possible. Troubles, at first, seem to fade like morning mist. But not even Jay Gatsby's parties go on forever. Who is Zelda, other than the wife of a famous--sometimes infamous--husband? How can she forge her own identity while fighting her demons and Scott's, too?
I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable
Call Number: FICTION Gable
Three women, born generations apart. One mysterious book that threads their lives together. A journey of love, discovery, and truth... I'll See You in Paris is based on the real life of Gladys Spencer-Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, a woman whose life was so rich and storied it could fill several books. Nearly a century after Gladys's heyday, a young woman's quest to understand the legendary Duchess takes her from a charming hamlet in the English countryside to a dilapidated manse kept behind barbed wire, and ultimately, to Paris, where answers will be found at last. In the end, she not only solves the riddle of the Duchess but also uncovers the missing pieces in her own life.
The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
Call Number: FICTION Gramont
In 1925, Miss Nan O'Dea infiltrated the wealthy, rarefied world of author Agatha Christie and her husband, Archie. In every way, she became a part of their life--first, both Christies. Then, just Archie. Soon, Nan became Archie's mistress, luring him away from his devoted wife, desperate to marry him. Nan's plot didn't begin the day she met Archie and Agatha. It began decades before, in Ireland, when Nan was a young girl. She and the man she loved were a star-crossed couple who were destined to be together--until the Great War, a pandemic, and shameful secrets tore them apart. Then acts of unspeakable cruelty kept them separated. What drives someone to murder? What will someone do in the name of love? What kind of crime can someone never forgive? Nina de Gramont's brilliant, unforgettable novel explores these questions and more.
Villa America by Liza Klaussmann
Call Number: Fiction Klaussmann
When Sara Wiborg and Gerald Murphy met and married, they set forth to create a beautiful world together-one that they couldn't find within the confines of society life in New York City. They packed up their children and moved to the South of France, where they immediately fell in with a group of expats, including Hemingway, Picasso, and Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald. On the coast of Antibes they built Villa America, a fragrant paradise where they invented summer on the Riviera for a group of bohemian artists and writers who became deeply entwined in each other's affairs. There, in their oasis by the sea, the Murphys regaled their guests and their children with flamboyant beach parties, fiery debates over the newest ideas, and dinners beneath the stars. It was, for a while, a charmed life, but these were people who kept secrets, and who beneath the sparkling veneer were heartbreakingly human. When a tragic accident brings Owen, a young American aviator who fought in the Great War, to the south of France, he finds himself drawn into this flamboyant circle, and the Murphys find their world irrevocably, unexpectedly transformed. A handsome, private man, Owen intrigues and unsettles the Murphys, testing the strength of their union and encouraging a hidden side of Gerald to emerge. Suddenly a life in which everything has been considered and exquisitely planned becomes volatile, its safeties breached, the stakes incalculably high. Nothing will remain as it once was. Liza Klaussman expertly evokes the 1920s cultural scene of the so-called "Lost Generation." Ravishing and affecting, and written with infinite tenderness, Villa America is at once the poignant story of a marriage and of a golden age that could not last.
Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
Call Number: FICTION McLain
In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It's her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. There she also finds herself unexpectedly--and unwillingly--falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend. On the eve of World War II, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest's relationship and careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must forge a path as her own woman and writer.
West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan
Call Number: FICTION O'Nan
In 1937, F. Scott Fitzgerald was a troubled, uncertain man whose literary success was long over. In poor health, with his wife consigned to a mental asylum and his finances in ruins, he struggled to make a new start as a screenwriter in Hollywood. By December 1940, he would be dead of a heart attack. Those last three years of Fitzgerald's life, often obscured by the legend of his earlier Jazz Age glamour, are the focus of Stewart O'Nan's gorgeously and gracefully written novel. With flashbacks to key moments from Fitzgerald's past, the story follows him as he arrives on the MGM lot, falls in love with brassy gossip columnist Sheilah Graham, begins work on The Last Tycoon , and tries to maintain a semblance of family life with the absent Zelda and daughter, Scottie. Fitzgerald's orbit of literary fame and the Golden Age of Hollywood is brought vividly to life through the novel's romantic cast of characters, from Dorothy Parker and Ernest Hemingway to Humphrey Bogart.
Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck
Call Number: FICTION Robuck
In Depression-era Key West, Mariella Bennet knows hunger. Her struggle to support her family following her father's death leads her to a bar and a bordello, where she attracts the interest of two men: world-famous writer Ernest Hemingway and Gavin Murray, a WWI veteran laborer. Hired as a maid by Hemingway's second wife, Mariella enters a rarefied world. . . even as reliable Gavin draws her back to what matters most.