Linda Wagner-Martin brings a wealth of new information to this detailed portrait of Hemingway's life and work. Emphasising his immense love of animals, the sea and the natural world, the swiftly-told personal narrative gives a crucial insight into Hemingway's character, revealing him as a conflicted idealist caught between his need to write and his need to love. Wagner-Martin explores his friendships with women and the history of his four marriages, and builds up a vivid picture of Hemingway's century - not only the two world wars and the Spanish Civil War, but also the peaceful fishing in the Gulf waters, the African safaris, and the iconic Spanish bullfights.