Hemingway, Ernest Typed Letter Signed (“Ernie”) to George Brown, his boxing coach and trainer Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, Cuba, june 26, [1942] George Brown was the owner of a gym in Manhattan where Hemingway worked out when he was in New York, and over the years Brown became Hemingway’s boxing coach, personal trainer, advisor, and close friend. He was a pallbearer at Hemingway’s funeral. In this high-spirited letter from Cuba, Hemingway thanks Brown for the “rubber belly reducers. They certainly are beauties. I make her [his wife, Martha Gellhorn] hang the one, the laced up one, in her bathroom in case any of my pals should ever come in and find it. The other one, made out of old truck tires, is ideal only you have to make sure you put your shoes on first as you can’t bend over when you have it on. I feel like Freddy Fitzsimmons fielding a bunt with it on…” In the next paragraph Hemingway refers to a visit from the Brooklyn Dodgers during that summer of 1942, in which they spoke of Leo Durocher: “That Saturday Evening Post of May 17 didn’t get here unitl yesterday. I read the story right away. The player it refers to is who you think all right. One night I was out with Billy Herman, Larry French, Curt Davis and Augie Galan and were talking about the man in question and how much he was loved and admired by all who work under him (all the players hate his guts) and they asked if I knew he started out as a thief. If he wasn’t he could certainly get himself a nice chunk of money by sueing the man who wrote the story.” [Leo Durocher was player-manager for the Dodgers from 1939-1945]. Hemingway continues with news of his children, Winston]s victory in shooting at the “big Internation shoot this winter against a bunch of pros…I’d wake him up just in time to have a good scotch and soda, he’d shoot and kill and then go back to sleep. Twenty six birds straight, twenty six scotches and sodas, excpt that I would throw away what ever was in the glass after he shot…” Hemingway writes about the new ambassador to Cuba (“Spruille Braden”) being a boxing fan, and suggests that he and Brown work out with him on Brown’s next vist. “I’m going to have a workout with him some afternoon soon. He has a big belly so probably you have to be careful about hitting it and then when you are being carefl he gives you the old Gimbel… 4to. 2pp., on two sheets of personal stationery. Very good in custom brown morocco-backed protective case Price: USD 10,000.00 other currencies   order no. 35102    inquire

(To order this book, press this button)

Read the ABAA Code of Ethics

offered by: James Cummins Bookseller Inc. 699 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10065 The Mill Fairmount Rd. East Pottersville, NJ 07979 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA P: James Cummins P: Carol Cummins M: Tim Johns Tel. (212) 688-6441, (908) 439-2724 (NJ) Fax (212) 688-6192 E-mail:  Internet: www.jamescumminsbookseller.com Sporting, Color-Plate Books, Private Press, First Editions, Fine Bindings, Sets, English & American Literature, Illustration Art, Autographs & Manuscripts * Contact for hours CONDITIONS OF SALE All items, as usual, are guaranteed as described and are returnable within 10 days for any reason. All books are shipped UPS (please provide a street address) unless otherwise requested. Overseas orders should specify shipping preference. All postage is extra. New clients are requested to send remittance with your orders. Libraries may apply for deferred billing. All New York and New Jersey residents must add appropriate sales tax. We accept American Express, Master Card and Visa. All items are subject to prior sale; prices are subject to change.    search our database...