F. G. Tinker (1909–1939)

True story about a twentysomething American fighter pilot who enlists in the Spanish Air Force to fight against Franco in the mid-1930s. He enters Spain on a faked passport and gets to work, shooting down enemy planes by day and rendez-vousing with local young ladies by night. As you probably already wondered, yes, he does meet and is befriended by Hemingway (see refs to Tinker in the official Hemingway Index). Their last meeting comes at Harry's Bar in Paris. Tinker doesn't have a US passport, so Hemingway agrees to vouch for him down at the US consulate. Wonderful writing by a first time author. Engaging, humorous and refreshing prose. The original 1938 edition was published by Funk and Wagnalls. Reprinted in 1992 by Time-Life Books. This book is highly regarded by students of the Spanish Civil War. Tragic, self-inflicted ending for the author foreshadows Hemingway's own demise.… (más)