True At First Light

A Fictional Memoir Of His Last African Safari

By: Ernest Hemingway

Narrated by: Brian Dennehy

Both a revealing self-portrait and dramatic fictional chronicle of his final African safari, Ernest Hemingway's last unpublished work was written when he returned from Kenya in 1953. Edited by his son Patrick, who accompanied his father on the safari, True at First Light offers rare insights into the legendary American writer.

A blend of autobiography and fiction, the book opens on the day his close friend Pop, a celebrated hunter, leaves Ernest in charge of the safari camp and news arrives of a potential attack from a hostile tribe. Drama continues to build as his wife, Mary, pursues the great black-maned lion that has become her obsession, and Ernest becomes involved with a young African girl whom he supposedly plans to take as a second bride. Increasingly enchanted by the local African community, he struggles between the attraction of these two women and the wildly different cultures they represent.

Spicing his depictions of human longings with sharp humor, Hemingway captures the excitement of big-game hunting and the unparalleled beauty of the landscape. Rich in laughter, beauty, and profound insight. True at First Light is an extraordinary publishing event—a breathtaking final work from one of our most beloved and important writers.©1999 All Rights Reserved; (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved.

It’s Hemingway

Over the years I thought I had read everything Hemingway wrote. Somehow I missed this piece. Any work by Hemingway could be reviewed with the same two words,” it’s Hemingway.” No more need be said. Although not the greatest man, he is surely the greatest writer that ever lived.

Good match of author and narrator

A serious Hemingway fan, I have been unable to read this book from beginning to end. Dennehy's flat voice is a perfect match to the often self-parody prose of the novel. As a captive audience of one as I commute each day, I have found that the audiobook has made it possible to enjoy this book in a way that the novel itself does not.
(None of the foreign words Hemingway employs really make or break any plot points, but it's worth checking the glossary at the end of the print edition for a fuller understanding of his pidgin-Swahili.)

Relaxing listen

Brian Dennehy does a fine job reading this story
I noticed some parts of the recording had “dead air”.
At times the story seemed a bit lackluster 🫠

Excellent Hemingway

Great listen with all the wit and prose of a “true” Hemingway novel. I greatly enjoyed it and I strongly recommend it to Hemingway fans. I wish we had more.

True at First Light Review

I liked the feel of the fact that this was the last. Provided context, joy and sadness. Hemingway is my favorite author. This book does not change that.