Hemingway, Ernest

1 page on Finca Vigia letterhead (11 x 8 1/2 in.; 279 x 216 mm), Havana, 25 November 1954; horizontal folds. With autograph envelope.

Hemingway on coping with the aftermath of the Nobel Prize announcement. "We have been swamped here with the Prize thing and all work and everything else put on the [word illegible] between journalists, photographers and crazies. Am going down to Paraiso for 2 weeks to get away from them. Been really over-run. Am 250 cables and 400 letters behind the ball."

The remainder of the letter concerns Hemingway's sons. "Am very happy all your news is so good and that you had such good shooting and lovely fishing on your birthday. Delighted things going well with Puck's [Bumby's wife Byra] health.…Mouse [Patrick Hemingway] seems fine and has been hunting very well with old Moms. He had a pretty close thing with a buff and behaved perfectly. Killed a fine bull buff and very fine lion."

After discussing trust funds and finances, Hemingway turns to his son Gregory, "Gig writes when he feels like it. Doesn't answer important letters and you have to be very careful not to offend his perfect judgement.But on the whole he seems much better. maybe he is just working hard finishing pre-med."

The letter ends, "Tell Miss Muffet [John's daughter Joan] we have a true gray feather kitty now."  The postscript is an enigmatic sketch, captioned "Ein Küss mit Paulsen Pies (sur-realist)."