I thought she was joking. No way is there a mostly anecdotal biography of Ernest H. titled “Papa Hemingway”! On this rare occasion, however, Tessa spoke the truth and was kind enough to read some of her favorite gems to me while I was suffering from a mysterious flu-like illness.
El mejor: Papa H. was cheating on his first wife and as soon as they were divorced and he married his mistress, he became impotent. He tried everything to overcome his ailment, visiting doctors, drinking calf’s blood, the works. Finally his new wife, a devout Catholic, suggested that he go to church and pray about it. Papa H. was at the end of his rope at this point so he went and said a little prayer. When he came home, he claims they “made love like they invented it”, and he has been a Catholic ever since. I have hardly known a better reason to practice religion.
