Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea
Reveals hidden depths of the Hemingway mystique through the eyes of a modern writer who spent a decade immersed in the legendary author’s attic

Hemingway’s Attic offers a fresh perspective on Ernest Hemingway’s life in Cuba from 1950 to 1952, shining a new light on the years leading up to his masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea. While much has been written about Hemingway’s life, covering his childhood, sexuality, genius, strange proclivities, and flaws, this book delves into a period that remains largely unexplored—Hemingway’s two years in Cuba between his biggest failure, Across the River and into the Trees, and his greatest triumph, The Old Man and the Sea. 

Set in the twilight of his career, these two years reveal Hemingway at his most destructive, tragic, and brutal. Living in an alternate world ninety miles off the coast of Florida, he abandoned Key West for a life in Cuba and navigated the consequences of a life by his own rules.

The narrative is enriched by the unique viewpoint of a modern writer who spent a decade working in Hemingway’s attic from 1998 to 2008, becoming immersed in the business and mythology of Hemingway, and even meeting two of his sons. This book captures both the roller coaster of Hemingway's life in Cuba and the legacy of one of America’s most influential literary figures.
1142907125
Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea
Reveals hidden depths of the Hemingway mystique through the eyes of a modern writer who spent a decade immersed in the legendary author’s attic

Hemingway’s Attic offers a fresh perspective on Ernest Hemingway’s life in Cuba from 1950 to 1952, shining a new light on the years leading up to his masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea. While much has been written about Hemingway’s life, covering his childhood, sexuality, genius, strange proclivities, and flaws, this book delves into a period that remains largely unexplored—Hemingway’s two years in Cuba between his biggest failure, Across the River and into the Trees, and his greatest triumph, The Old Man and the Sea. 

Set in the twilight of his career, these two years reveal Hemingway at his most destructive, tragic, and brutal. Living in an alternate world ninety miles off the coast of Florida, he abandoned Key West for a life in Cuba and navigated the consequences of a life by his own rules.

The narrative is enriched by the unique viewpoint of a modern writer who spent a decade working in Hemingway’s attic from 1998 to 2008, becoming immersed in the business and mythology of Hemingway, and even meeting two of his sons. This book captures both the roller coaster of Hemingway's life in Cuba and the legacy of one of America’s most influential literary figures.
32.95 Pre Order
Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea

Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea

by William Elliott Hazelgrove
Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea

Hemingway's Attic: Hell and Glory in Cuba and the Writing of The Old Man and the Sea

by William Elliott Hazelgrove

Hardcover

$32.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on January 20, 2026

Related collections and offers


Overview

Reveals hidden depths of the Hemingway mystique through the eyes of a modern writer who spent a decade immersed in the legendary author’s attic

Hemingway’s Attic offers a fresh perspective on Ernest Hemingway’s life in Cuba from 1950 to 1952, shining a new light on the years leading up to his masterpiece, The Old Man and the Sea. While much has been written about Hemingway’s life, covering his childhood, sexuality, genius, strange proclivities, and flaws, this book delves into a period that remains largely unexplored—Hemingway’s two years in Cuba between his biggest failure, Across the River and into the Trees, and his greatest triumph, The Old Man and the Sea. 

Set in the twilight of his career, these two years reveal Hemingway at his most destructive, tragic, and brutal. Living in an alternate world ninety miles off the coast of Florida, he abandoned Key West for a life in Cuba and navigated the consequences of a life by his own rules.

The narrative is enriched by the unique viewpoint of a modern writer who spent a decade working in Hemingway’s attic from 1998 to 2008, becoming immersed in the business and mythology of Hemingway, and even meeting two of his sons. This book captures both the roller coaster of Hemingway's life in Cuba and the legacy of one of America’s most influential literary figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781493076611
Publisher: Globe Pequot Publishing
Publication date: 01/20/2026
Pages: 224
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

William Elliott Hazelgrove wrote from the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois from 1998-2008. His tenure there was covered by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, C-SPAN, USA Today, LA Times, PBS, Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer, the Globe and Mail, and NPR’s All Things Considered. He has a Masters in History and is the best-selling author of ten novels and seven narrative nonfiction books: Madame President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson, Forging a President: How the West Created Teddy Roosevelt (Regnery Publishing), Al Capone and the 1933 World’s Fair (Rowman and Littlefield). He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments

Note to the Reader

The Kingdom of Hemingway 

Prologue: Gloria Hemingway

THE ROAD TO CUBA 

Chapter 1: Hemingway’s Crib 2001

Chapter 2: House of Grace 1899-1918

Chapter 3: Shell Shocked 1919

Chapter 4: A Moveable Feast 1919-1923

Chapter 5: Verboten 1923-1925

Chapter 6: Filthy Books 1925-1926

Chapter 7: The Havannah Special 1926-1934

Chapter 8: That Way Madness Lies 1934-1937  

Chapter 9: Beauty and the Beast 1937-1943

Chapter 10: Machine Gunning the Sharks 1943-1947 

CUBA: HEART OF DARKNESS

Chapter 11: Waiting for Across the River and into the Trees 1947-1950

Chapter 12: Across the Street and into the Grill 1950

Chapter 13: The New Mrs. Hemingway 1951

Chapter 14: From Here to Eternity 1951

Chapter 15: Writing The Old Man and the Sea 1951

Chapter 16: The Wickedness 1951 

Chapter 17: Lord of the Jungle 1951

Chapter 18: The Last Circus 1951

Chapter 19: It Wasn’t So Bad Papa 1951

Chapter 20: A Clean Well Lit Place 1952

Chapter 21: Ernestine 1952

Chapter 22: The Snows of Kilimanjaro 2001

Chapter 23: The Old Man and The Sea 1952

Chapter 24: Hemingway's Attic 2001

Epilogue

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews