Patrick Hemingway, the last surviving child of the iconic author Ernest Hemingway, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 97 at his home in Bozeman, Montana. His grandson, Patrick Hemingway Adams, confirmed the news in a statement, reflecting on his grandfather's remarkable life and intellect.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Patrick was the second son of Ernest Hemingway and his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer. Growing up in a family frequently embroiled in the complexities of fame and artistic legacy, Patrick developed a unique relationship with his father's literary heritage. While his brother Gregory Hemingway struggled with mental health and addiction, Patrick embraced his lineage and often engaged in promoting the family name through various projects. His involvement in his father’s estate allowed him to oversee the reissue of classic works like “A Farewell to Arms” and “A Moveable Feast,” modifications that included new commentary and revised texts.
In contrast to his brother Gregory’s troubled relationship with Ernest, Patrick would often speak fondly of his adventures with his father, which were highlighted in the 2022 book “Dear Papa: The Letters of Patrick and Ernest Hemingway.” This compilation demonstrated their mutual affection through stories of hunting and fishing, capturing the bond they shared over shared pursuits. Patrick remarked that his father expressed a desire to spend time with him that surpassed his experiences with anyone else.
One of Patrick’s significant contributions was his editorial work on “True at First Light,” which presents a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s experiences in Africa during the mid-1950s. The book, which was released in 1999, was met with mixed reviews, and some critics accused Patrick of capitalizing on his father’s legacy. He frequently acknowledged that his commercial interest motivated him to read his father’s work to effectively manage and market it.
Patrick Hemingway's long life unfolded in a family plagued by mental illness and tragedy. Ernest Hemingway's father, Clarence, took his own life in 1928, a fate that later befell Ernest himself in 1961. Gregory suffered from alcoholism and depression, passing in a jail cell in 2001 after being arrested. The family’s struggles were highlighted by other tragedies, including the overdose death of Patrick's half-niece, actress Margaux Hemingway, in 1996. Patrick was noted for his striking resemblance to his father, sharing a similar physique and many of his father’s traits.
After graduating from Harvard University, Patrick followed his father’s passion for Africa, purchasing a farm in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). He immersed himself in the region, working as a hunter, safari guide, educator, and forestry officer with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Patrick was married twice and had a daughter, Mina Hemingway, with his first wife, Henrietta Broyles. From the mid-1970s until his death, he lived in Bozeman, Montana, where he often reflected on his father’s life and their shared memories.
In a poignant recollection shared with NPR in 2008, Patrick described the tender memories he held of his father, noting moments from their time in Africa and the gentle interplay of their relationship. He remembered the warmth of his father’s kiss and the simplicity of their joy while riding together at night. Patrick Hemingway's passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with one of America’s most significant literary figures.
