One True Podcast

In this episode, the inimitable Susan Beegel joins producer Michael Von Cannon for a special "Scholar's Spotlight" episode.Beegel tells Michael about her article "Fish Tale: A History of the L.C. Bates Museum Marlin, Taxidermist Fred C.N. Parke, and Ernest Hemingway," which appeared in the Fall 2018 issue of the Hemingway Review. Listen in as she unlocks the mysteries surrounding a taxidermied Hemingway marlin that she came across in a museum in Hinckley, Maine.  As Beegel explores the intertwined story of Hemingway and Parke, she dives into the culture of deep-sea fishing along the Florida Keys, the importance of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad, and the conflicted relationship Hemingway had with the upper crust. In doing so, she follows the trail of Hemingway's artistic growth and literary celebrity. The marlin becomes a symbol of what the writer lost, what he never possessed, and what he finally determined to hook and land.  This episode was recorded on February 22, 2019.

Stacy Keach joins the show to reflect on his legendary career, particularly his portrayal of Hemingway on the stage, in the classic miniseries, and in his audio recording of short stories. Keach compares the art of acting to the act of writing and gets to the heart of Hemingway’s knack for conveying emotion in spare prose.  He reflects on the many adaptations of Hemingway novels and his friendship with George C. Scott and John Huston.  He also offers insights into Hemingway’s psychology and destructive habits. As a special bonus, hear Keach's brilliant read of our “one true sentence” introduction!This episode was recorded on August 8, 2019.

Alex Vernon joins the show to discuss one of Hemingway’s major themes: men at war.  He penetrates the myth of Hemingway-as-warmonger, isolates some of the writer's most evocative war passages, and even reflects on his own war experiences in the Middle East. Vernon also tracks Hemingway’s development from the young eyewitness of World War I to the keen partisan of the Spanish Civil War, and finally to the solemn commentator of WWII journalism. In pursuit of Hemingway’s place in the canon of war literature, this episode incorporates a lively discussion of Crane, O’Brien, Stendhal, and even the Kardashians.This episode was recorded on June 27, 2019.

This episode is a journey into the culture and history of Cuba. Given the undeniable importance of Cuba in Hemingway’s life and legacy, Hemingway readers will learn a lot more about it from one of the preeminent scholars, thinkers, and writers on Cuba, Dr. Julia E. Sweig.Dr. Sweig discusses US-Cuba relations, their tumultuous history, her meetings with Fidel Castro, and her sense of what we might expect--and hope for--in the coming years. The interview touches on issues of immigration, terrorism, and contemporary politics as we explore the past, present, and future of our Cuban neighbors.This episode was recorded on May 23, 2019.

In this episode, we explore Hemingway and John Dos Passos, their service in the American Red Cross during World War I, their writing careers, and their doomed friendship. In order to do so, we chat with the man who wrote the book on it.  James McGrath Morris’s The Ambulance Drivers chronicles the highs and lows of their relationship and their legacies.  As well, Morris talks about the mystery surrounding the identity of the Italian soldier who saved the young Hemingway’s life.This episode was recorded on June 12, 2019.

Today's show places Ernest Hemingway alongside one of his artistic contemporaries: F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Part friendship and part rivalry, their complex relationship has all the twists and turns of a good novel about two characters that, at least on the surface, seem vastly different.  There's some truth to these differences but, like a good story, there's a fair share of fiction.  We sit down with Kirk Curnutt to set the record straight.  During the episode, we draw the distinction between myth and reality to learn more about their lives, their art, and their relationship. This episode was recorded on May 30, 2019.