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Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

  • Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection

    Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection

  • Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection

    Ernest Hemingway Photograph Collection

Did Hemingway ever take part in the running of the bulls?

Fernando Hualde says he did in his book - "Hemingway. Cien años y una huella."

Hemingway took part in the running of the bulls for the first time on the 7th of July, 1924 accompanied by Donald Ogden Stewart and, according to the above-mentioned author, without getting close to the bulls. From the book "Historia de los Sanfermines" by José María Iribarren as well as from statements made by people who knew Hemingway, we know that he did not like to take any risks in the running of the bulls. Many people now believe that he never ran in the running of the bulls and that he was afraid to take part. However, in a photo which illustrates a page in the book and which belongs to the John F Kennedy library in Boston, we can see him playing with the young bulls in the bullring just after the running of the bulls and he certainly does not look like someone that is afraid.

That snapshot was taken in 1927 but it could just as well have been taken in on the 8th of July, 1924 when a news report was sent out around the world. One of the young bulls knocked over Donal Ogden and Hemingway tried to pull the animal away by grabbing it. He too received a knock from the young bull. According to Fernando Hualde, there is no medical report list for that day nor does the local press make any mention of injuries. In spite of that, in The Toronto Star published a report that stated that Donal Ogden had suffered two broken ribs and that Hemingway had been fined for misbehaving.
In addition, Hemingway sent United Press a report that he had been gored by a bull and this news agency spread the news all over the world. The repercussion was quite astounding even though it was based on a falsehood.

That same year, in 1924, on the 13th of July, Hemingway was an eye-witness to the first death in the running of the bulls, when Esteban Domeño from Sanguesa, was fatally gored. That event made a deep impression on Hemingway and set off his concept of the duality of death and fiesta, which he later set down in his novel, Fiesta.

sanfermin 2010

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