Hemingway in Paris - Small Group Walking Tour
Description
Hemingway spent his formative years in Paris. Surrounded by fellow authors such as James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound & F. Scott Fitzgerald, he transitioned from cub journalist to seasoned novelist. These men & women were known as the "Lost Generation", many of whom had suffered through the horrors of WW1. They flocked to Paris not only for artistic inspiration but also to find themselves. This tour will take you to the places that Hemingway frequented, where he lived, worked & partied. Along the way I share documented research on his life & exploits, archival photos of Hemingway in Paris, and excerpts of his work. From his first trip to Europe as a volunteer Ambulance Driver in WW1, to his final days in Ketchum, Idaho, I will share Hemingway's experiences in Paris, his life, his loves, his work. We will visit his favorite bars and perhaps share a drink while I relate his story from his early years to Paris, and ultimately his tragic end.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start the tour in the heart of the Left Bank's bohemian quarter. We discover his early days before arriving in Paris. Then we will see Hemingway's1st flat - a cold water flat with no running water, shared toilets in the hallway & a mattress on the floor. Despite his poverty, he loved Paris & opened himself up to discovering a new city, a new life.
Next stop, the place where James Joyce finished writing his masterpiece novel Ulysses. The two men were good friends, perhaps a "Literary Odd Couple" given their differences !
We will visit the original location of the famed bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, on the rue de l'Odéon. Hemingway was a close friend of the owner, Sylvia Beach, and he shared many happy memories of the store & the woman in his novel about Paris, A Moveable Feast.
Hemingway's last flat in Paris was located nearby - the rent was paid by his 2nd wife's family and it was far more posh than his previous digs. We will hear about his friendship with Fitzgerald & discover the behind-the-scenes story of his 1st novel, The Sun Also Rises. It was a divisive book, that cost him the friendship of several close acquaintances, but it catapulted him to fame.
Le Select was popular with all the Lost Generation writers. We end the tour here. Guests can also choose to end the tour in one of the other famed 1920s cafés of Montparnasse (La Rotonde, the Dome, the Closerie de Lilas), at Harry's NY Bar near the Opera, or at the Hemingway Bar in the Ritz Hotel (advance notice required for this option because dress attire is obligatory to enter the bar). Drinks NOT INCLUDED in the tour price.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that I am entirely vaccinated