The Paris Wife
Paula McLain
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, is a lilting story of the life
of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. Written from
Hadley’s perspective, we get an inside look to what it was like to be a woman
in the 1920’s married to a chauvinistic, self-obsessed man who is trying to
make a name for himself in the literary world. It truly has the feel of an
autobiography, although it is merely based on McLain’s historical research of
the couple.
The love story opens in
1920 when Hadley and Ernest first meet. It starts as one of those boy pursues
girl stories, in which Ernest chases and finally marries Hadley. Their marriage
is one of deep love for each other, and lasts, perhaps longer than it should because
of two things, the time period in which it occurred and Hadley’s deep feelings
for Ernest.
While Ernest goes off every
day to write the “one true sentence” he seeks, Hadley is left in their meagre
apartment to amuse herself. Although Hadley’s trust fund finances their early
married life, and Ernest seeks her honest opinion of much of his writing, she
is not his equal, and her identity is tightly tied to her husband. Eventually
she does return to her music and is just finding herself, going as far as planning
a concert performance when their marriage reaches a turning point which causes
her to cancel.
The best times of their
marriage seem to be when they escape Paris for the Alps and have some real
family time. It is during these holidays that Ernest is not so obsessed with
his own writing and is occupied with other activities, allowing them to be
truly together.
However, Ernest’s frequent
affairs and quick temper wear on Hadley, finally culminating in her ability to
end the marriage on her terms.
I enjoyed this story, and
was able to sympathize with Hadley as she put up with Ernest’s behaviour. At
times I was frustrated with all she endured, although the writing is very
matter of fact and guides the reader to realize a woman’s limitations within
the life and times of 1920’s Paris. The ending comes just as we are ready to
give up on Hadley’s happiness, and I was glad that later on she did find
someone who appreciated all she had to offer.
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