Double-Edged Sword: The Many Lives of Hemingway's Friend, the American Matador Sidney Franklin

In his nonfiction debut, critic and documentary writer Paul taps into the unbelievable story of New York-born matador Sidney Franklin, noted friend (and enemy, and inspiration) of Ernest Hemmingway. Franklin grew up in Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20th century, anxiously conflicted between his love for acting and desire to please his harsh father. Once Franklin came of age, realizing he identified as homosexual, he left deeply in-the-closet America for Mexico City, seeking happiness; he found bull fighting, leading him eventually to Spain and his terminal on-the-job goring. Franklin's story is remarkably dramatic-the man amassed as many successes and failures as he did friendships and affairs (with members of both genders)-but Paul also delves into Franklin's narcissistic inner world, where he viewed himself much differently than did friends and observers. Interjecting his opinions clearly while letting readers judge Franklin's motives for themselves, Paul presents an absorbing biography of a 20th century original, a confidante, lover, narcissist, and bravura performer whose capacity for suffering captured one of America's greatest literary minds.