Whether or not Hemingway loved the fall most of all, the Hemingway fan has come to expect that the Community Library in Ketchum will pull out all the stops for a symposium in his honor.
The library, in collaboration with Boise State University, Northwest Nazarene University, and the Idaho Humanities Council, present the fourth annual celebration of the literary heritage of Ernest Hemingway this week starting unofficially today, Oct. 17, officially Thursday, Oct. 18, and continuing through Saturday, Oct. 20.
The symposium, free and open to the public and has invited seven speakers from a spectrum of backgrounds to bring an eclectic evaluation to this years’ theme, “Hemingway and Politics.” The theme will investigate how Hemingway’s writing and life were influenced by the world around him, and how he may have used his writing to change the world.
Keynote speaker is Peter Moreira, author of “Hemingway on the China Front,” who asserts that when he began his mission to China, Hemingway “had just finished not only his biggest novel but also his work with more probing political analysis than anything he had ever written before…In ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ [he had] constructed what Jeffery Meyers called ‘the greatest political novel in American literature’.”
Distinguished BSU Professors Clyde Moneyhun, Mitch Wieland, Scott Yenor, Clay Morgan, Jacky O’Connor, and Shelton Woods will also present screenings, lectures, discussions, and a creative writing workshop. More details at www.thecommunitylibrary.org.
The most current schedule as of press time is as follows.
Wednesday, Oct. 17
- Pre-Symposium Event: HBO Films Presents “Hemingway and Gellhorn” at 6 p.m.”
Recounting one of the greatest romances of the last century this film explores the passionate love affair and tumultuous marriage of literary master Ernest Hemingway and the beautiful, trailblazing war correspondent Martha Gellhorn. It follows the adventurous writers through the Spanish Civil War and beyond. As witnesses to history, they covered all the great conflicts of their time; but the war they couldn’t survive was the war between themselves. Starring Nicole Kidman and Clive Owen (154 mins.).
Thursday, Oct. 18
- Screening “All Quiet on the Western Front” at 2p.m.
A classical film about a young German student who enlists with his friends to fight in World War I, only to forget all of his training when the bombs rain down on their trenches. As time goes on, Paul comes face-to-face with the senselessness of war.
- Ernest Hemingway Symposium reception at 5 p.m.
- Keynote Talk with “Hemingway on the China Front: His Spy Mission with Martha Gellhorn” author Peter Moreira at 6 p.m.
Introduction by Sandra Hofferber. Peter Moreira has been a foreign correspondent, was a senior writer for the New York based weekly “The Deal” and has authored a book on Canadian economics. His latest book is entitled “The Jew Who Defeated Hitler: Henry Morgenthau Jr. and the Defeat of the Third Reich.” Book signing with Iconoclast.
Friday, Oct. 19
- Screening: “A Farewell to Arms” at 9 a.m.
Introduction by Jacky O’Connor. A tale of the love between ambulance driver Lt. Henry (Gary Cooper) and Nurse Catherine Barkley (Helen Hayes) during World War I. The action takes place in Italy and the two fall in love along the way and will stop at nothing to be together. The film also analyzes Lt. Henry’s feelings on war and the purpose of fighting.
- Moderated Student Panel from 9-10:30 a.m.
A panel of four undergraduates from Boise State University and Northwest Nazarene University will present 12-15 minute papers on some aspect of Hemingway and politics. The papers may be literary or historical. A moderated question time will follow the paper presentations. Limited space. Contact Programming Coordinator Sheridan Brett to sign up. Email sbrett@thecommunitylibrary.org.
- Hemingway’s Politics in His Journalism and Fiction, a Continuum of Contradiction, from 11-11:45 a.m.
Introduction by Clay Morgan. A conversation with distinguished Hemingway experts, authors and faculty members of Boise State University: Clyde Moneyhun and Jacky O’Connor.
- Hemingway and Politics from 1-1:45 p.m.
Introduction by Clay Morgan. Presentation by Shelton Woods on “Asia at the Time of Ernest Hemingway & Martha Gellhorn’s Trip” and by Dr. Scott Yenor on “Political Philosophy in “The Sun Also Rises.’”
- Writers look at Hemingway from 2-2:45 p.m.
Introduction by Mitch Wieland. A group of four creative writers from area universities will give public readings from their works of poetry or fiction. The pieces will relate to Hemingway through style or engagement with the Symposium theme.
- Screening “The Front” at 3:30 p.m.
Introduction by Jacky O’Connor. Starring Woody Allen, “The Front” is about the Hollywood blacklist that included a number of artists, writers, directors and others that were accused of subversive political activities in support of Communism or of being a Communist during the age of live television in the early 1950s. Howard Prince, who works in a restaurant, helps out a black-listed writer friend by selling a TV station a script under his own name.
Saturday, Oct. 20
- Screening “Islands in the Stream” at 10 a.m.
Introduction by Sandra Hofferber. War. Freedom. Loyalty. Love. Manhood. Ernest Heminfway’s most powerful themes are gloriously captured in “Islands in the Stream.”
Hemingway and Gellhorn Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman in a tumultuous affair.
Courtesy photo
