Misadventures of a Fly Fisherman: My Life With and Without Pops

Trish Brown was an editor residing in Toronto.

The title of Jack Hemingway’s autobiography accurately describes the whole. We are told of the life and times and misadventures of Jack Hemingway, a lover of the outdoors, with an almost obsessive interest in dry-fly fishing. Early childhood experiences in Europe, through to present-day anecdotes from Sun Valley, Idaho, fill the reader with Hemingway’s enthusiasm for the tranquility of country life, “summertime,” and most specifically, with his love of trout fishing.

The subtitle, “My life with and without papa,” is very much a secondary theme. We get snippets of information about the infrequent times when the author and his father were together. There is a sense of sadness that their times together were so few, and the sense of regret experienced by a child without an “everyday” father. One of their closest moments, and a most notable reference in the book, is the pact they made that neither would ever commit suicide.

The reader will be disappointed if the reason for purchase is to find out more about the late Ernest Hemingway. This story is about Jack Hemingway. From childhood memories while shuttling between Europe, Chicago, and Key West, his childlike impressions of famous literary and “show business” friends of his father, moving on to his military exploits during World War II. During a mission as a secret agent, he managed to include his beloved fishing rod as part of the essential equipment for the maneuver. Jack Hemingway had happy memories of his time in the forces, although the end of his service meant looking for direction career-wise. After a considerable time of indecision, he became involved in the business of investment consulting and securities, which he enjoyed, and which allowed him time and money to put toward important considerations: marriage, and bringing up three now famous daughters, Muffet, Margot, and Mariel.

Jack Hemingway has been quoted as saying, “I spent the first fifty years of my life being the son of a famous father and am now spending the last fifty as the father of famous children.” After reading his autobiography, it’s difficult to imagine his father or his daughters living a richer life than this one. He finds happiness from the beauty around him and his optimism is an inspiration to get out there and find what he has found.

This book will appeal to fishing enthusiasts, nature lovers, and veterans of World War II. Others may have to spend too much time skimming through detailed descriptions of fishing activities, to find what they are looking for.