About Josh Silverstein Expertise I will answer questions relating to Ernest Hemingway's life or literature. I can also help with quotation source requests. No homework questions please.
Experience Mr. Silverstein holds a B.A. in English Literature and has been studying the life and works of Ernest Hemingway for the past ten years. His major work on Hemingway is titled, "The Importance of Being Ernest: Hemingway's Truth in Fiction and his Fiction in Truth." He is also author of "Hemingway: Alive and Well Online," an article exploring Hemingway's presence and position in the online community. He is the founder of "Timeless Hemingway," an award winning web site devoted to Ernest Hemingway.
Expert: Josh Silverstein Date: 11/11/2004 Subject: contest Hemingway won as young writer
Question Hi Mr. Silverstein,
I'm doing some research on Hemingway for a project and heard an anecdote I'm trying to verify. I was told that as a young writer, Hemingway entered a contest, the object being to write a short story in less than ten words. He won by writing, "Baby clothes for sale - unused." I wanted to find out if this is true or apocryphal, and if true, where I could get more information. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Barney Lichtenstein
Answer Hi Barney,
Someone submitted this quotation once via the Hemingway quote finder service offered at my web site. I was unable to verify that Hemingway ever wrote this. The exact quote I believe is: "For sale. Baby shoes. Never used." I am still relatively convinced that Hemingway did not pen this.
