John Hemingway

John Hemingway is an American author whose critically acclaimed memoir, Strange Tribe, examines the similarities and the complex relationship between his father Dr. Gregory Hemingway and his grandfather, Nobel Laureate Ernest Hemingway. In the numerous talks that he has given throughout North America and Europe audiences have found John’s story of adversity, survival and forgiveness, both compelling and inspirational.

As revealed in his memoir, John had a difficult childhood; not only did his father suffer from bipolar disorder but his mother, Alice, was schizophrenic. As a result, John spent his early years being shuffled from one home to another and trying to make sense of his highly dysfunctional family. He eventually went to study history and Italian at U.C.L.A. and after graduating moved to Italy, as a way of distancing himself from his troubled family background. However, once there he realized that unless he came to terms with his father’s disorder he would never find the emotional equilibrium that had always eluded him. To do that, however, meant understanding his grandfather and what John discovered was that both men, besides being bipolar, were also fascinated by androgyny. Being a Hemingway, it turned out, was much more complicated than most people realized and the macho myth surrounding Ernest Hemingway was in fact only half the story.

As a writer John’s articles and short stories have appeared in American, Italian and Spanish newspapers and reviews.  His short story Uncle Gus was recently the featured piece for the re-launch of the Saturday Evening Post.

After leaving Italy and spending a year in Spain, John now lives with his wife and two children in Montreal, Canada.

1. Mental Health Issues

    John Hemingway speaks about overcoming adversity and dealing with Bipolar Disorder in the family through humility, love and understanding. Sometimes the hardest journey that any of us will ever have to take is just forgiving, and accepting as they are, the people we love the most.

1. Literary Icons

    Hemingway discusses the life and works of his grandfather, Ernest Hemingway, an American icon whose work and voice are still as vital and relevant as they ever were.

1. Gender Issues In A Changing World

    Hemingway presents on gender-issues and the process of coming to terms with a crossing-dressing, trans-gendered father.