The Best Friend I Ever Had

by David Nuffer

"The Best Friend I Ever Had" is an unusual non--fiction book about people the author has known over the past 30 years -- people who knew Ernest Hemingway. Among them are Hemingway's wife, Mary; his son, Patrick; his friends in Cuba at mid-century; a jai-alai champion; and his best friend in Ketchum, Idaho, over the 22 years that he visited or lived there. Their comments and reminiscences about the literary icon are new and revealing, sometimes provocative, sometimes inflammatory. In these pages are photographs and documents never before published, including unreleased letters to Hemingway from his doctors at the Mayo Clinic following his shock treatments there in 1960-61. In the words of one academic researcher, "I thought, and was told, that the Mayo file was closed and unavailable." This book proves otherwise. Here are eight chapters of remembrances plus a final chapter with four capsule entries, including the story of the discovery of Hemingway's Toronto Star typewriter. You'll find "The Best Friend" a font of fresh information that discloses the complexity of the man behind the legend.

172 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Nuffer's fascination with Ernest Hemingway (July 21, 1899 — July 2, 1961) in 1971 when he read a library copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Something clicked with him and the book and he began a thirty year quest to learn every thing he can about the author. Nuffer's book The Best Friend I Ever Had is the scrapbook compilation of his travels to Hemingway's places and his correspondence (and sometimes friendships) with people who knew the author.

The most interesting parts of the book are the photographs and reproduced letters, articles and maps. They are worth looking at to get a sense of place with Hemingway. What the book lacks is organization. Nuffer's enthusiasm for Hemingway carries the first couple chapters but it's not enough to lead the book to a satisfying conclusion.

Finally Nuffer's devotion to his subject is creepy. As he shares more of his correspondence and interviews I got the impression that not everyone from Hemingway's inner circle were happy to have him tagging along. Hemingway for all his fame and persona was a living, breathing person and he left behind friends and family who have their own lives. They might want to get on with their own lives without the constant reminder of their association with a long dead (but famous) writer.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least a billion words have been written by or about Ernest Hemingway, there are books about pretty much everywhere he ever lived or visited. While it would seem that there is no more to be written about the man or his work, new books continue to be written; among them is The Best Friend I Ever Had: Revelations about Ernest Hemingway from those who knew him by David Nuffer. Mr. Nuffer has a fascination with Mr. Hemingway; of the billion words he owns about 24 million of them and he has visited most, if not all of Mr. Hemingway’s former homes. In his book, Mr. Nuffer documents discussions, interviews, meetings, and letters from and with ten people who knew Mr. Hemingway at one point or another during his life. They include family and friends, including his last wife, Mary Hemingway, and one of his sons, Patrick Hemingway. The book is divided into eight chapters, each one devoted to one of the ten people, with two being married couples who share a chapter. Most of the people had a seemingly limited amount of contact with Mr. Hemingway and could only shed light on the small part of his life they were involved in. [return][return]I have read a few of Mr. Hemingway’s novels and short stories but I know very little about him. I know the basic things that I assume everyone knows about him. He committed suicide in Idaho, and he lived in Cuba and Key West (I’ve been to the Key West house), he hunted big game in Africa, and he had some involvement in the Spanish Civil War; other that that I don’t know much about him. While that does not present a problem in my day to day life, it did when reading this book. Most of what’s in it could probably best be defined as minutiae, of possible interest to those with great interest in Mr. Hemingway’s life but not to the common reading. [return][return]The Best Friend I Ever Had was really the story of Mr. Nuffer’s fascination with Mr. Hemingway rather then a story about the man himself. Mr. Nuffer has an obvious passion for the subject, but to quote Mr. Hemingway, “[I] did not have enough background knowledge to appreciate the book.”

[J.R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

One wonders what more one could to find to say about Hemingway that hasn't already been said now more than 40 years since his death.

David Nuffer, an ardent fan, has found more by interviewing people who knew the writer. The book includes some photos and documents never before published.

Personally, I tend to agree with Hemingway's son, Patrick, who's quoted in the book: "It’s what’s finally published that counts. A lot of collectors don’t care at all about the writing, the literature, just the game of collecting and selling."