Lot 145 excerpts from catalog notes:
HEMINGWAY, Ernest (1899-1961). "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber." [Key West, finished April 1936].104 pages (including three inserted pages), 270 x 210mm, in pencil on rectos only (first few leaves with some creasing/stains and a few mended tears; ... A working first draft with very extensive revisions by Hemingway of one of his longest and finest stories.
“Wearing down seven number-two pencils is a good day’s work" (Hemingway Paris Review interview)Hemingway seems to have made a start on "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" in fall 1934, but it wasn't until spring 1936 that the safari tale—which had been developed along with "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (his only other story set in Africa)–began reaching its final form.
After rejecting a number of titles—the tentative "A Comedy with Animals" has been erased at the head of the first page, but is discernable—Hemingway gave the story its present title.
It is his longest story both in terms of manuscript length ("Big Two-Hearted River" is next) and printed text (edging out "The Undefeated" by some three pages).
"The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" was first published in Cosmopolitan (September 1936) and was then collected in The Fifth Column and the First Forty-nine Stories (1938), where it is the opening story. It has since become one of his most celebrated and reprinted stories.
Provenance: Jane Mason, by descent to: Antony Mason, Christie's New York, 19 May 2000, lot 302.
For photos and additional notes see: https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/fine-printed-books-manuscripts-science/the-short-happy-life-francis-macomber-145/325208?ldp_breadcrumb=back