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Hemingway's Paris: A Writer's City in Words and Images
Walk through the Streets of Paris with Ernest Hemingway.
In gorgeous black and white images, Hemingway’s Paris depicts a story of remarkable passion—for a city, a woman, and a time. No other city in any of his travels was as significant, professionally or emotionally, as was Paris. And it remains there, all of the complexity, beauty, and intrigue that Hemingway described in the pages of so much of his work.
It is all still there for the reader and traveler to experience—the history, the streets, and the city. Restaurants, hotels, homes, sites and favorite bars are all detailed here. The ninety-five black and white photographs in Hemingway’s Paris are of the highest caliber. The accompanying text reveals Wheeler’s deep understanding of the man; his torment, talent, obstacles and the places of refuge needed to nurture one of the preeminent writers of the twentieth century.
Moved by the humanistic writing of the man—a writer capable of transcending his readers to foreign settings and into the hearts and minds of his protagonists—Wheeler was inspired to travel throughout France, Italy, Spain, Africa, and Cuba, where he has sought to gain insight into the motivation behind Hemingway’s books and short stories. As a teacher, lecturer, and photojournalist, he set out to capture and interpret the Paris that Ernest Hemingway experienced in the first part of the century. Through his journal and photographs, Wheeler portrays the intimate connection Hemingway had with the woman he never stopped loving, Hadley, and with the city he loved most, Paris.
In gorgeous black and white images, Hemingway’s Paris depicts a story of remarkable passion—for a city, a woman, and a time. No other city in any of his travels was as significant, professionally or emotionally, as was Paris. And it remains there, all of the complexity, beauty, and intrigue that Hemingway described in the pages of so much of his work.
It is all still there for the reader and traveler to experience—the history, the streets, and the city. Restaurants, hotels, homes, sites and favorite bars are all detailed here. The ninety-five black and white photographs in Hemingway’s Paris are of the highest caliber. The accompanying text reveals Wheeler’s deep understanding of the man; his torment, talent, obstacles and the places of refuge needed to nurture one of the preeminent writers of the twentieth century.
Moved by the humanistic writing of the man—a writer capable of transcending his readers to foreign settings and into the hearts and minds of his protagonists—Wheeler was inspired to travel throughout France, Italy, Spain, Africa, and Cuba, where he has sought to gain insight into the motivation behind Hemingway’s books and short stories. As a teacher, lecturer, and photojournalist, he set out to capture and interpret the Paris that Ernest Hemingway experienced in the first part of the century. Through his journal and photographs, Wheeler portrays the intimate connection Hemingway had with the woman he never stopped loving, Hadley, and with the city he loved most, Paris.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2015
86 people are currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Robert Wheeler
6 books32 followersSince reading his first Hemingway novel in 1986, Robert Wheeler has been a Hemingway enthusiast. Robert was moved by the humanistic writing of the man—a writer capable of transcending his readers to foreign settings and into the hearts and minds of his protagonists. Hemingway and his work have inspired Robert to travel throughout France, Italy, Spain, Africa, and Cuba, where he has sought to gain insight into the motivation behind Hemingway’s books and short stories. As a teacher, lecturer, and photojournalist, Robert set out to capture and interpret the Paris that Ernest Hemingway experienced in A Moveable Feast. Through his journals and photographs, Robert portrays the intimate connection Hemingway had with the woman he never stopped loving, Hadley, and with the city he loved most, Paris.
Robert currently lives in New Castle, New Hampshire with his wife, Meme, and daughters, Emma and Helen.
Robert currently lives in New Castle, New Hampshire with his wife, Meme, and daughters, Emma and Helen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 16, 2015
I met Robert Wheeler at New Hampshire’s River Run Bookstore where he attended a book talk for my novel, HEMINGWAY’S GIRL. He and his wife, Katherine, warmly welcomed me to the city, and we spent the evening discussing our mutual appreciation for the work of Ernest Hemingway. It was during dinner that Robert revealed a series of stunning black and white photographs he had taken in Paris from “Hemingway’s perspective.” As he passed the pictures to me and described–with great passion and exuberance–the meaning of the photos and their connections to Hemingway’s work, I was overcome by his unique exploration in understanding Hemingway.
It gives me tremendous joy these years later to hold HEMINGWAY’S PARIS, a photo journal of Wheeler’s images and reflections on the famous writer and his beloved city. As clean as the prose of Hemingway himself, the nearly one hundred photographs progress like the sketches of Hemingway’s A MOVEABLE FEAST. HEMINGWAY’S PARIS has inspired me to reread the classic, and has deepened my desire to visit Paris.
Whether you are a lover of Hemingway, Paris, photography, or art, you will find great inspiration on the pages of HEMINGWAY’S PARIS. It would make an excellent gift, display book, or artistic companion, and I will be sure to pack it on my first trip to Paris so I might walk the routes of Ernest Hemingway.
It gives me tremendous joy these years later to hold HEMINGWAY’S PARIS, a photo journal of Wheeler’s images and reflections on the famous writer and his beloved city. As clean as the prose of Hemingway himself, the nearly one hundred photographs progress like the sketches of Hemingway’s A MOVEABLE FEAST. HEMINGWAY’S PARIS has inspired me to reread the classic, and has deepened my desire to visit Paris.
Whether you are a lover of Hemingway, Paris, photography, or art, you will find great inspiration on the pages of HEMINGWAY’S PARIS. It would make an excellent gift, display book, or artistic companion, and I will be sure to pack it on my first trip to Paris so I might walk the routes of Ernest Hemingway.
May 23, 2015
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, remarkable black/white pictures, great font & writing style. A very well written kind of words/images Ernest Hemingway memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Yucca Publishing; hardcover book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
A very awesome book cover, remarkable black/white pictures, great font & writing style. A very well written kind of words/images Ernest Hemingway memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Yucca Publishing; hardcover book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 25, 2015
I absolutely adore Hemingway, and this book shed light on his life in Paris. There are definitely a lot of things in here that I've never read about before, so it was definitely very intriguing. Add on the gorgeous black-and-white photos and Robert Wheeler's poetic prose, and you get a stunning picture of Hemingway and his time in Paris, captured perfectly. I can see this being an excellent gift for a Hemingway fan in somebody's life, or, if you happen to love Hemingway as much as I do, check it out for yourself! It will not disappoint.
April 26, 2015
As soon as I learned about this book, I reserved my copy the same day. This is precisely the time period and place that I love to explore in my own writing. I was not disappointed. The nostalgia-inducing black and white photos are a fitting compliment to the author's spare reflections on Hemingway's life and work. The pictures were actually taken by the author to capture the places frequented by Hemingway (many of them still exists). It serves a great companion piece to "A Moveable Feast", and made me want to return to that book again to relive the magic and poignancy of the 1920s in Paris - before the fame and money and when most of his relationships with other artists were still new and held promise to be something more. He was also in love with his first wife, and they were in the honeymoon phase of their marriage. Even if you have no interest in Hemingway (which I think is next to impossible, but I am biased), you will love the moody and atmospheric black and white photographs.
February 27, 2019
Short book. Nice photographs and prose connecting Hemingway to the photos.
Did I misread or did he say he was Hemingway's editor Max Perkins' grandson? I think he earned an extra half-point on that one.
Did I misread or did he say he was Hemingway's editor Max Perkins' grandson? I think he earned an extra half-point on that one.
April 26, 2015
This is a lovely book of contemporary black & white photographs of various Hemingway-related sites in Paris. Although the photography is present-day, views of people and modern day buildings are kept to a minimum, which definitely gives you the illusion of seeing these locales as if you were viewing them in the 1920's when Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley came to Paris and the writer began his career. Hemingway's Paris memoir "A Moveable Feast" is the main reference point of his works to this travel/photography companion. It was actually somewhat surprising how many of the apartments, hotels, cafes and bar/restaurants from those days are still around or even in business! The Shakespeare and Co. bookstore is another touchstone here, but as the author admits the current site is in a new locale, different from that of Sylvia Beach's that Hemingway was familiar with. This is highly recommended for Hemingway and Moveable Feast fans!
It could, however, have done with a bit more copy/editing, especially for something luxury priced as it is (it retails for $34.99 here in Canada). Calling the memoir "A Moveable Feast" a novel (page 26), book seller and publisher Sylvia Beach a fellow writer (page 32) and having the blurb on page 108 refer to a non-existent photo of Marcel Proust's apartment on page 109 make it seem like something was rushed in the final production here. So a star/point off for that.
It could, however, have done with a bit more copy/editing, especially for something luxury priced as it is (it retails for $34.99 here in Canada). Calling the memoir "A Moveable Feast" a novel (page 26), book seller and publisher Sylvia Beach a fellow writer (page 32) and having the blurb on page 108 refer to a non-existent photo of Marcel Proust's apartment on page 109 make it seem like something was rushed in the final production here. So a star/point off for that.
May 23, 2015
I was fortunate to win Hemingway's Paris: A Writer's City in Words and Images in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
This is a gem of a book and loved the images. I've been to Paris on several occasions and can see how Hemingway fell in love with the City.
This is a gem of a book and loved the images. I've been to Paris on several occasions and can see how Hemingway fell in love with the City.
January 31, 2015
Looking forward to reading this book!
May 4, 2021
How Paris affected Hemingway during the time he lived there. Not much new here, but the photographs that accompany the text are stunning
February 19, 2025
Yes, I must admit I’m a bit obsessed with Hemingway. I had different cycles of obsession over the years. Before I go further, I know Hemingway was a cad and an asshole at times. He also did great things and sparks a sense of wonder in me that has lasted to this day.
My first experience was as a teenager as I soaked up his short stories and drank with my friends pretending to be characters from a Sun also Rises
My second was as a young man in my twenties. Driving to Key West from Chicago holding up a bar stool at Sloppy Joes and visiting his house. ( the six toed cat story is not true!)
Finally as a man closing in on 60. I’ve revisited this great author’s works with a new enthusiasm. Like meeting with an old friend. The brings me to this nostalgic work by Robert Wheeler. Hemingway in Paris.
It’s a beautiful collection of black and white photos and travel writing of Papa’s old haunts. In the mist of winter’s gloom here in the Midwest, it’s been a much needed vacation!
It’s an enjoyable collection that will stoke my desire to follow in his footsteps again in the future!
My first experience was as a teenager as I soaked up his short stories and drank with my friends pretending to be characters from a Sun also Rises
My second was as a young man in my twenties. Driving to Key West from Chicago holding up a bar stool at Sloppy Joes and visiting his house. ( the six toed cat story is not true!)
Finally as a man closing in on 60. I’ve revisited this great author’s works with a new enthusiasm. Like meeting with an old friend. The brings me to this nostalgic work by Robert Wheeler. Hemingway in Paris.
It’s a beautiful collection of black and white photos and travel writing of Papa’s old haunts. In the mist of winter’s gloom here in the Midwest, it’s been a much needed vacation!
It’s an enjoyable collection that will stoke my desire to follow in his footsteps again in the future!
April 16, 2024
This wonderful book can be considered a companion piece to Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.
Aided by the words carefully chosen to describe the wonderful black and white photos, we can see the Paris he so loved through Hemingway’s eyes.
In the early years with his first wife, Hadley, the love of his life, these are the places that helped shape the writer he became.
Some favorite descriptions:
…..It was the view of the Pantheon - the very place where the souls of French literature rest - that consequently inspired Hemingway to dismiss all ornament from his writing and to write the truest sentence he knew.
….Through viewing the work of Cezanne and others, he learned how light was reflected through trees or upon buildings, or the way it fell upon a face. Hemingway set out to achieve this through his suggestive and innovative style. His sentence structures were like the rapid, bold strokes of a painter’s brush, and, by limiting his words, he could portray the same sense of clarity and importance that Cezanne’s work held.
Hemingway was learning and absorbing so very much while enveloped in the hallways, and in the art itself, of the many museums and salons that dot the landscape of Paris. To create human emotion on canvas or through stone, moved and touched Hemingway. Like Rodin’s sculptures, Hemingway’s prose, once chiseled down, was simple and direct and emotionally powerful. These museums became classrooms for him…..
Aided by the words carefully chosen to describe the wonderful black and white photos, we can see the Paris he so loved through Hemingway’s eyes.
In the early years with his first wife, Hadley, the love of his life, these are the places that helped shape the writer he became.
Some favorite descriptions:
…..It was the view of the Pantheon - the very place where the souls of French literature rest - that consequently inspired Hemingway to dismiss all ornament from his writing and to write the truest sentence he knew.
….Through viewing the work of Cezanne and others, he learned how light was reflected through trees or upon buildings, or the way it fell upon a face. Hemingway set out to achieve this through his suggestive and innovative style. His sentence structures were like the rapid, bold strokes of a painter’s brush, and, by limiting his words, he could portray the same sense of clarity and importance that Cezanne’s work held.
Hemingway was learning and absorbing so very much while enveloped in the hallways, and in the art itself, of the many museums and salons that dot the landscape of Paris. To create human emotion on canvas or through stone, moved and touched Hemingway. Like Rodin’s sculptures, Hemingway’s prose, once chiseled down, was simple and direct and emotionally powerful. These museums became classrooms for him…..
July 10, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
A stunning photographic tribute to Hemingway's Paris (and the literary works that culminated from those years) through the lens of the city at present. This book makes me wish I could board the next plane to France and read all of Hemingway's work amidst the historical ambiance of the beautiful City of Light.
A stunning photographic tribute to Hemingway's Paris (and the literary works that culminated from those years) through the lens of the city at present. This book makes me wish I could board the next plane to France and read all of Hemingway's work amidst the historical ambiance of the beautiful City of Light.
July 10, 2019
Perhaps more effective as a physical book.
December 2, 2023
I've read A Moveable Feast, The Paris Wife, Living Well is the Best Revenge, and several other expat portraits. While the writing quality was fine and the subject interesting, there was very little new material in this short piece about Hemingway. I thought the omission of the lost manuscripts was a pretty major omission. His obsession on bullfighting and bicycle racing also fueled his alcoholism which was barely acknowledged in this piece. I did enjoy hearing what Wheeler researched about Hemingway's involvement in WWII in France. I've been to Ville-dieu-de-Poele and to the Normandy beaches so I could imagine him there, during war, throwing his weight around, bellowing orders. It's great that Hemingway loved France and had a good time there. Now if a critical thinker could tell us how France influenced his writing. Was he thinking about France when he was writing about Spain? Did he have french friends other than his bookies and bartenders? I think I felt like this was a good book for someone who doesn't know much about Hemingway but to me it felt insufficient and unfinished.
January 4, 2023
I was hoping to buy a copy of Robert Doisneau: Paris to steep myself in photos of the city of light, possibly of some of the places Hemingway frequented in the 1920s, but the shipping was $37 USD! Luckily I found this kindle book for a few dollars and what a joy. Robert Wheeler has crafted beautiful, haunting black and white photos of the Paris that was so important to the famous American writer, including the view out of Hemingway’s window looking towards the Pantheon. And so many others.
“Wheeler’s photos of Le Bistrot St Honoré and the Salon de The on the Ile St Louis offer a beckoning warmth combined with a quality of emptiness and solitude.”
Favourite photos are Along Rue de Varenne, Le Bistrot St. Honoré, Façade along Avenue l’Observatoire, Le Petite Chaise, Café de Flore, Bar 228 in Le Meurice, Quai Voltaire, Present day Shakespeare and Company, North view from Hemingway’s room, Pont du Carousel and quite a few others. A mesmerising journey through Hemingway’s life in Paris.
“Wheeler’s photos of Le Bistrot St Honoré and the Salon de The on the Ile St Louis offer a beckoning warmth combined with a quality of emptiness and solitude.”
Favourite photos are Along Rue de Varenne, Le Bistrot St. Honoré, Façade along Avenue l’Observatoire, Le Petite Chaise, Café de Flore, Bar 228 in Le Meurice, Quai Voltaire, Present day Shakespeare and Company, North view from Hemingway’s room, Pont du Carousel and quite a few others. A mesmerising journey through Hemingway’s life in Paris.
October 19, 2022
moving portrait
Wheeler’s Paris rises out of Wheeler’s Hemingway. To him, Hemingway was a man in love with his wife, dedicated to his craft, and in love with his adopted city. When he let himself lose Hadley he lost Paris and, Wheeler suggests but does not say, lost his craft. There are other versions of Hemingway but the exquisite photographs is this collection capture the love and loss inherent in Wheeler’s vision, and make for a touching portrait of artist and city.
Wheeler’s Paris rises out of Wheeler’s Hemingway. To him, Hemingway was a man in love with his wife, dedicated to his craft, and in love with his adopted city. When he let himself lose Hadley he lost Paris and, Wheeler suggests but does not say, lost his craft. There are other versions of Hemingway but the exquisite photographs is this collection capture the love and loss inherent in Wheeler’s vision, and make for a touching portrait of artist and city.
April 27, 2021
Hemingway’s story is tragic but I was drawn to this book because Paris is delightful. I missed my last trip due to the COVID lockdown and have been dreaming of our next one. I was intrigued by the black and white photos and the tie ins to Hemingway and Hadley. If you love Paris you will enjoy this book. I cannot wait to return.
December 31, 2017
Beautiful photos, thoughtful and meaningful descriptions: this is a lovely book that gives context to the places that influenced Hemingway in Paris. It's a terrific addition to the long list of books written on this subject. It was a great way to pass a snow-bound day in late December.
October 2, 2021
Writing accompanied by great black and white pictures of Paris. Much of the 1920's Paris still exists to do and more. I took time and went to Paris and traced some of Hemingway's steps as a young man. This book is a list of the places I went and the things I saw...
October 13, 2022
The author does a great job of covering Hemingway’s Paris. The author’s writing is superb, but the pictures appeared very dark on my iPad. He did a superb job of covering Hemingway’s regret for divorcing Hadley, his wonderful first wife.
March 24, 2025
This book is like you have a friend who loves Hemingway, so he goes to Paris and walks around taking pictures of Hemingway's favorite stuff. When he comes home he makes them into a slide show and you're stuck in a dark room listening to his live commentary with little factual evidence.
October 7, 2017
This was a lovely "picture book" with words and black and white photos related to Hemingway's life in Paris. It describes Hemingway's life in Paris in prose and picture.
January 26, 2018
Touristy B&W pictures with trite facts from Hemingway’s day’s in Paris. The author tries to associate the two but merely demonstrates amateur photography skills and ignorance of Hemingway.
May 28, 2019
Short
More information of the beginning. Interesting but not really full of information about Hadley! Nothing special, that one did not hear about before .
More information of the beginning. Interesting but not really full of information about Hadley! Nothing special, that one did not hear about before .
May 14, 2021
The perfect companion to 'A Moveable Feast'!
June 26, 2021
Beautiful book, very atmospheric for those who love Paris
January 7, 2022
I had only read A Moveable Feast- but enjoyed the abbreviated Hemingway bio and the photographs.
January 17, 2022
Interesting walk through Hemingway's haunts in Paris
February 27, 2025
I loved this book. I love Paris and Hemingway. Reading this was like going on a mini vacation during these troubling times in the US.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews