Nick is a divorced English law lecturer, charismatic and entertaining, but his world changes when his relationship with one of his law students, Adrienne, a young Korean woman, becomes complicated.
First, there are allegations of sexual harassment from Adrienne, but then she joins forces with him to help investigate that his grandfather, William, was a friend of Ernest Hemingway. It looks like William influenced Hemmingway’s work and inspired the character of Harris in The Sun Also Rises.
As Nick and Adrienne work on this project, a very rocky and confusing relationship ensues, made more complicated in the time of #Metoo, on what is appropriate, especially when there is such an age disparity.
That brings us to the novel's second strand—Nick’s grandfather’s interactions with Hemingway in Spain and Hong Kong. This is the part of the novel that is the most interesting, as we look at Hemingway’s character from this fictional viewpoint, exploring his toxic masculinity, and Hemingway emerges worse than his reputation suggests.
You don’t need to be an expert on Hemingway’s life and books to enjoy this novel, but anyone who is interested in Hemingway will find this novel fascinating. Hemingway’s Goblet is a surprising read, with much to think about. Expect a book that is well-written and satirical, with engaging central characters.
Reviewer: Karen McMillan
Mary Egan Publishing