Hemingway's Chair
by Michael Palin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Michael PalinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-06-23
ISBN: 0312205503
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780312205508
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Hemingway's Chair
Book Review: A Farewell to Martin Sproale
Summary: 5 Stars
Michael Palin is best known for his comic genius displayed in "Monty Python", and more recently for his travel documentaries. One might expect a novel from him to be laugh-out-loud funny, and certainly the premise for "Hemingway's Chair" seems to suggest that will be the case. But readers will be delightfully surprised to find the book is not fully comic, more poignant than funny, with vividly drawn characters in this iconic slice of small town English life.
Martin Sproale has lived his entire life in Theston, a small coastal town, and worked for the past sixteen years at the post office. Yet he has only ever really 'lived' when he is admiring his hero, Ernest Hemingway, in his bedroom shrine; for the author seems the very antithesis of Martin's shy persona and bumbling ways. He has no one to share this love with, not even Elaine, with whom he has enjoyed a safe relationship with for the past year, their future hopes pinned on his promotion to manager before the end of the year. But when the old post master retires, a drive to modernize and privatize the post office comes along and Martin finds himself pushed aside and his way of life is threatened by the impending new technological advances. His hesitancy and meek acceptance costs him much that he thought he held dear, but opens the door for Martin to discover who he really is.
"Hemingway's Chair" is a delightful, thoroughly 'English' read. Palin has created a cast of characters who are believable, and the storyline is original. The ending is a little rushed and too tidy, with some holes left open, but it is fun to watch Martin's transformation throughout the course of the novel. It also offers some interesting commentary on Hemingway and his writings (pro and con), but one doesn't have to be a fan of the man's writing to enjoy Martin's journey.
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