Hemingway's brain compromise created depression, multiple symptoms of post concussive syndrome, and ultimately, after a long series of ECT, his suicide
Hemingway's Brain Examined - TBI, CTE & Suicide
Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.
~ Ernest Hemingway
Dr. Andrew Farah, is a forensic psychiatrist, psychopharmacologist, and the author of a remarkable new book: Hemingway's Brain. This interview, our first CBJ discussion, is at once transcendent, entertaining, and prescient regarding the brain awareness changes today taking place in both our society and our neuroscience community.
This is a republication of our exceedingly popular earlier conversation at CBJ/114
Brief Bio
Dr. Farah is a native of Charleston SC and now serves as Chief of Psychiatry at the High Point Division of UNC Healthcare. In addition to this extraordinary piece on Hemingway, we've invited Andy back to CBJ for a serious discussion regarding the homocysteine theory of depression, and the use of reduced B vitamins for depression and neuroprotection, particularly the prevention of dementia challenges. Yes, he's a neuroscience expert as well. Stay tuned for our next visit.
His Interest In Hemingway's Brain
It's important to note that Dr. Farah's remarks in this engaging and remarkably informative interview arise from his love of Hemingway's works. His passion for meaningful work as a writer is evident, his professional experience as a psychiatric/forensic investigative reporter is exemplary, as is his abiding personal drive to face the new, discoverable realities of Hemingway's brain function.
If you have loved the troubled, insightful and metaphoric Hemingway, as we have over many years, you will most certainly find our discussion interesting. And you will genuinely appreciate Andy's book.
From the historically documented challenges of Hemingway's chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE, to alcohol abuse, to the challenges of global celebrity in this CBJ/114 episode, we discuss many interesting aspects of Hemingway's life and mind. For decades his death and life challenges have remained so inexplicable because they occurred in times of ineffective brain diagnostic technology, only about 56 years ago.
* Photo by Mariya Georgieva on Unsplash
Hem's Medical Tragedy
Then, even at the esteemed Mayo Clinic, the standard of care overlooked Hemingway's brain challenges as biologically relevant, measurable or correctable.
Upon careful review, stigma and celebrity kept him from going to Menninger's for his depression, as he could appear more medical for the purported reason of hypertension at the medical Mayo Clinic.
It's reassuring to confirm how we've come such a long way in our understandings of brain injury in just a few years.
Hemingway's Life & Friends - Brain Injury Matters
If the hoar frost grip thy tent,
Thou wilt give thanks when night is spent.
~ Ezra Pound, The Pisan Cantos
You will also appreciate Dr. Farah's comprehensive grasp of those memorable years in the 'Hemingway Times' - including interesting insights regarding his relationships with extraordinary Lost Generation writing companions including James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and others. When you listen to Dr. Farah talk about Hem, it's easy to think you're with them all in Paris,