Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois on July 21, 1899. He was a reporter before he became a novelist and went to work for The Kansas City Star after leaving high school. He worked there for six months and then signed up to be an ambulance driver in Italy during WWI. He saw many gruesome things during this time, and those memories are present in several of his pieces. During the war he received the Italian Silver Medal of Bravery, along with several serious injuries. The war was not the only thing that affected his writing. Indian Camp (the piece he wrote that was in our reading packet) was written a couple months after the birth of his first son. His wife went into labor while he was on a train, making it impossible for him to get to her. The emotions in the story come from the fear he felt when he thought she might die in labor without him by her side. He is known for his unique writing style and outlook on life. Here is a link to a site of his quotes that show off his personality. You can also read more about him on his wikipedia page.