Hemingway The American Writer

[Ane]

Perhaps I can try to put it a different way. If you pick up a Hemingway novel, chances are you will not even be reading about America. You will be reading about a country in Europe as told by an American - but not even juxtaposed with American ideals, as Twain would do

If you disapprove of my use of "ironic", perhaps I can say that I find this fact "notable"

I didn't really want to - but I could go further and say that Hemingway did not really know America - he knew and wrote about Spain, Paris, Cuba, quite beautifully - but even in his Nick Adams short stories - I don't see much reflection about America or Americans

I disagree about the juxtaposition. Hemingway (as well as James and Fitzgerald) used the transatlantic theme exactly juxtapose American morals and ideals with European.That's why none of those works could have been written by a European (or so I would say). American fiction taking place in Europe is, in my view, just as American as those that take place in the US.

[Seasider]

Shakespeare didn't write many plays set in England...only the History plays and maybe King Lear and whether he travelled much,as with most information about him, is a matter of conjecture.

[kelby_lake]

I disagree about the juxtaposition. Hemingway (as well as James and Fitzgerald) used the transatlantic theme exactly juxtapose American morals and ideals with European.That's why none of those works could have been written by a European (or so I would say). American fiction taking place in Europe is, in my view, just as American as those that take place in the US.

Exactly. I'd argue that American fiction taking place in Europe gives more of an insight into the 'American mind', if there is such a thing, because it's a culture clash and comparing cultures helps bring out the different aspects in each.