In late 1959, Ernest Hemingway received a series of German press reviews from his publisher in Hamburg, Germany, Rowohlt Verlag GmbH. The press compilation starring Hemingway came from widely different publications across Germany, from mainstream newspapers in Berlin to small school newspapers in München. In a time before the internet and easier global promotion, Hemingway’s figure loomed large as one of the 20th century’s most renowned literary figures. They reveal the conversations happening about Hemingway in late 1950s Germany; conversations not just about his books, but about his birthday, writing advice, his adventures, his mythos. These newspaper clippings serve as physical evidence to understand Hemingway’s international legacy and the mechanics of his literary celebrity before the digital age.
Audiences of all ages were actively engaged with Hemingway’s works. From Prisma, a student newspaper in München, an unnamed author offers a deep dive and reflection on Hemingway’s Book Der alte Mann und das Meer (The Old Man and the Sea). It explores the relationship between man and nature in the book, as well as similar existential themes of war and hunger in Hemingway’s novels. German press didn’t only engage with Hemingway’s books either. Many of the short articles sent to Hemingway discuss interviews he has given, his biography, and debates surrounding the legitimacy of Hemingway’s age. These articles offer a glimpse into how Hemingway was perceived and discussed in 1959’s Germany, and how the press interacted with literary celebrities in that era.
Ernest and Mary Hemingway House and Preserve Collection, 2025.01.53, 2025.01.78, 2025.01.80.
Collection highlight written by Charlie Bruce, Hemingway Preservation Intern.
