Hemingway, Ernest. Autograph letter signed ("Ernest"), 1 page (10.5 x 8.12 in.; 267 x 206 mm.), [October 1940?], to Charles an...

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Hemingway, Ernest. Autograph letter signed ("Ernest"), 1 page (10.5 x 8.12 in.; 267 x 206 mm.), [October 1940?], to Charles and Lorine Thompson; paper loss from ink burn affecting five characters of two words. Hemingway, Ernest. Autograph letter signed ("Ernest"), 1 page (10.5 x 8.12 in.; 267 x 206 mm.), [October 1940?], to Charles and Lorine Thompson; paper loss from ink burn affecting five characters of two words. Hemingway lays claim that the climate of Key West and its tropical beer inspired him to write For Whom the Bell Tolls, his best novel for which he won the Pulitzer. In full: Dear Charles and Lorine-How are you both and what about the hurricane? Did it blow away the overseas highway? We will come back just the same but the loss of the highway will make snipe shooting more difficult. It will be grand to get back. The book came out the 27th-a letter from Max on Oct 7th received today says it had sold 23,000 up till then and on Oct. 8th 24,500-on Oct 12 he wired it had sold 28,000 by the 10th of Oct. (I have to sell 60,000 to clear off my family debts-then will get a boat!) So I will soon be making money like B[?] when we struck the Kingfisher belonging to that old man do you remember-to see the lake between the King Conch and The Bakers Bay would be fine. Wish I could come down in Nov. to get a boat then go to Piggott and come down after Xmas. Well we'll see but will see you this winter unless everything goes blooy. Key West is what we talk about all the time. Couldn't have been more worried when reading about the hurricane danger if we'd owned the other ice plant! Best to you both-please note Pauline is fine. So are Pat and Bumby. In a postscript he writes: It's the best selling book in US at last report! Whoopee. Written and re-written in Key West. Interviewed on the subject on his success Mr. Hemingway said, "I lay it all to the climate of Key West and the fact that it's the only place in America where you can get tropical beer." Together with: Hemingway, Ernest. Autograph postcard signed ("Ernest"), 1 page (5.5 x 3.38 in.; 139 x 85.85 mm.), 14 July, to Mr. Charles Thompson, (The Marine Hardware King) Key West Hardware Co., on a Spanish postcard depicting a bull fight; some wear. Dear Charles, We're at Pamplona where the bulls chase the citizens through the streets. Think of you both often. The rods came fine. Thanks ever so much. Pauline and I go from here to Valencia in new Ford...Bullfights have been lousy all except one kid Felix Rodriguez. Have been swimming all the time. Write me all the dope. Best to Lorine. Yours always Ernest. It can be assumed that his first letter is written in October of 1940 at the time of For Whom the Bell Tolls was written. The novel was published in October, sold 75,000 copies and was quickly nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. It was regarded as Hemingway's best novel. Both the letter and the postcard herewith are addressed to Charles Thompson and his wife Lorine. Charles Thompson ran the local hardware store in Key West and introduced Hemingway to the exciting world of big game sport fishing, which started a long friendship. Charles and his wife Lorine entertained the Hemingways at their home on Fleming Street in Key West. Lorine Thompson proved to be as gracious as her husband and she developed a close friendship with Hemingway's wife that would last a lifetime.