True at First Light Audiobook By Ernest Hemingway cover art

True at First Light

A Fictional Memoir

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True at First Light

By: Ernest Hemingway
Narrated by: Brian Dennehy
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Both revealing self-portrait and dramatic fictional chronicle of his final African safari, Ernest Hemingway's last unpublished work was written when he returned from Kenya in 1953. Edited by his son Patrick, who accompanied his father on the safari, True at First Light offers rare insights into the legendary American writer.

A blend of autobiography and fiction, the book opens on the day his close friend, Pop, a celebrated hunter, leaves Ernest in charge of the safari camp and news arrives of a potential attack from a hostile tribe. Drama continues to build as his wife, Mary, pursues the great black-maned lion that has become her obsession. Spicing his depictions of human longings with sharp humor, Hemingway captures the excitement of big-game hunting and the unparalleled beauty of the scenery: the green plains covered with gray mist, zebra and gazelle traversing the horizon, cool dark nights broken by the sounds of the hyena's cry.

Who's your papa? Listen to more from Ernest Hemingway.©1999 All Rights Reserved (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Biography Africa Witty Memoir

Critic reviews

"Twentieth-century American literature could not end on a brighter note than the publication of this book." (Library Journal)
"Amusing, moving, and of treasurable importance to an understanding of this massive, however flawed, genius of our literature." (Kirkus Reviews) "A major literary event. In addition to the book's intrinsic pleasures, it provides a new window into the tantalizing, unsettling, oceanic world of his experimental, unfinished late work." (Newsweek)
Excellent Narration • Witty Prose • Mellow Deep Voice • Layered Storytelling • Enjoyable Commute Listen
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Over the years I thought I had read everything Hemingway wrote. Somehow I missed this piece. Any work by Hemingway could be reviewed with the same two words,” it’s Hemingway.” No more need be said. Although not the greatest man, he is surely the greatest writer that ever lived.

It’s Hemingway

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A serious Hemingway fan, I have been unable to read this book from beginning to end. Dennehy's flat voice is a perfect match to the often self-parody prose of the novel. As a captive audience of one as I commute each day, I have found that the audiobook has made it possible to enjoy this book in a way that the novel itself does not.
(None of the foreign words Hemingway employs really make or break any plot points, but it's worth checking the glossary at the end of the print edition for a fuller understanding of his pidgin-Swahili.)

Good match of author and narrator

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Brian Dennehy does a fine job reading this story
I noticed some parts of the recording had “dead air”.
At times the story seemed a bit lackluster 🫠

Relaxing listen

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Another beautiful picture painted of Mid century East Africa safari life by the master. Reveals layers of Hemingway that I had not experienced before.

A must for African safari dreamers

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I liked the feel of the fact that this was the last. Provided context, joy and sadness. Hemingway is my favorite author. This book does not change that.

True at First Light Review

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Great listen with all the wit and prose of a “true” Hemingway novel. I greatly enjoyed it and I strongly recommend it to Hemingway fans. I wish we had more.

Excellent Hemingway

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Hemingway always leaves you wanting more, but this book does not seem to close in the same fashion. Would have been 4 or 5 stars without the last section.

Something Missing

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It is good to hear from papa and some of the old people from green hills of Africa. It was good to catch up on how things were changing over the years.

Good to see an old friend

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This provided way more in written form. The story itself is decent, but just does not make for a good audible.

Not good for audible

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I so wanted to enjoy this book. Hemingway's works are suppose to be classics. This is my second book by this auther. The first "Old Man and the Sea" was just barely tolerable. This one was just plain boring. I'm an outdoorsman and wanted to feel the excitment of Africa and the hunt. Sorry this book doesn't do it for me.

Boring

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