The ONLY THING THAT COUNTS : The Ernest Hemingway/Maxwell Perkins Correspondence

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Summary: Mail bonding between the great author and his editor
Review: Hemingway was an indefatigable letter writer and as editor Bruccoli's introduction states he "wrote more words in letters than he wrote for publication, and letter writing became part of the mechanism of his literary career." This collection of correspondence between legendary Scribner's editor Max Perkins and his star author offers their personal insight into the writing and editing of Hemingway's works. Although Hemingway is now almost as famous for being a son of a bitch as he was for being a writer, he comes across here as a loyal and trusting friend-at least to Perkins. But most importantly these letters reveal him to be an artist first and foremost. The shooting, fishing, and drunken bravado that mark the Papa Hemingway persona are present but inconsequential here and what shines through is EH's complete, total, and unfaltering dedication to writing and how for him producing great literature was the only thing that counts. That insight makes this a valuable addition to Hemingway scholarship and an aficionado's delight.-Michael Rogers

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Summary: Two Literary Giants
Review: The best part of this are the early letters dealing with Hemingways first novel The Sun Also Rises and second novel A Farewell to Arms(Maxwell Perkins was an expert on war fiction). The exchanges between Ernest and Max over these books are priceless and very good reading to anyone who loves these books. From arguements over curse words(Hemingway one of the first to break ground in using them in his work) to discussions of Jake's predicament, from questions of how to present a reissue of Hemingways first story collection to reactions to reviews(more good reading) the correspondence is at this point one of mutual respect and admiration, Hemingway seems to need the great presence of Max Perkins even if for nothing else than reassurance. Later when the great ones literary reputation is established the letters become less and less interesting. The friendship remains a strong one but Hemingway no longer needs or asks for any input into his literary decisions. Perhaps the most astounding thing about Maxwell Perkins in relation to Hemingway is that he was smart enough to leave talent alone. With others like Fitzgerald and Wolfe there was always much to be done but with Hemingway the talent seems to have been there whole from the beginning. Hemingway fans that want to know everything will read and enjoy every detail even the letters which are just Hemingway complaining about his finances. Bitching about money can be funny when its Hemingway bitching about money. Probably a smarter purchase would be a collection of Perkins correspondence with all the authors he worked with. That way you get only the letters which count.