Good Driver

September 12th, 2007 by Michelle

A signed advance proof of “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” inscribed by Hemingway to his driver and friend Toby Otto Bruce, will come up for auction on November 29. The estimated value of the rare manuscript is $75,000 to $125,000. According to this AP article,

Bruce served as Hemingway’s driver, secretary and handyman in Key West, Fla. He regularly proofread manuscripts for Hemingway, and read “For Whom the Bell Tolls” as each chapter was written. He also helped Hemingway with personal problems. Hemingway dubbed Bruce “The Iron Man,” and rewarded him with the commission to design the book’s dust jacket…

Posted in Ephemera, On Writing

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About Sans Serif

Sans Serif began as a literary blog in September of 2005. Over time it has evolved into a more eclectic venture, with posts on books, politics, current events, literary happenings in the San Francisco Bay Area, publishing news, the writing life, and writing exercises. This blog is written by Michelle Richmond, author of four books of fiction: The Year of Fog, Dream of the Blue Room, The Girl in the Fall-Away Dress, and No One You Know (forthcoming, 2008).

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