When Adriana Ivancich is mentioned as a figure in ernest hemingway's life, it is usually with derision, incredulity, or else a barely constrained “Did they or didn't they?” breathlessness. The idea that Ivancich, who was not even born when Hemingway wrote The Sun Also Rises (1926) and A Farewell to Arms (1929), was the inspiration behind the teenage contessa Renata, Colonel Cantwell's improbable love interest in Across the River and into the Trees (1950), has generated a sometimes hostile reaction. However, this crucial figure in Hemingway's post-World War II life and writing deserves investigation. To the extent that she has been a blind spot in scholarly circles, the oversight can be attributed to a language gap. Her letters to Hemingway, her memoirs, her brother's memoirs, and much of the important analysis of Hemingway's involvement with the Veneto are written in Italian.
10. Philosophy and Fitness: Hemingway’s “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” and The Sun Also Rises