A Moveable Feast: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

The chapter opens with a quote discussing the talent of an unknown man. The speaker of the quote remarks that he is lucky to have met this man after a time of productive writing, even if it was not a good time in the man’s personal life. The narrative switches back to Hemingway’s usual first person voice and he explains that when he first meets Scott Fitzgerald “a very strange thing” happens. Hemingway is at the Dingo bar when Scott enters accompanied by the famous pitcher Dunc Chaplin. Scott has an attractive, boyish face, with “very fair wavy hair” and “excited eyes.” Hemingway is intrigued to finally meet Scott, but embarrassed when Scott starts praising Hemingway’s writing. They drink a bottle of champagne and Hemingway is happy when Scott’s “speech” comes to an end. However, then comes a “question period,” which begins by Scott asking if he may call Hemingway “Ernest.”

Scott then asks Hemingway if he and Hadley slept together before they were married; Hemingway replies he doesn’t remember, and Scott is astounded. It is at this point that the strange thing happens. While Hemingway is looking at Scott, Scott’s face transforms from its usual appearance into a “death mask.” When Scott doesn’t reply, Hemingway suggests that they call an ambulance, but Dunc Chaplin replies that Scott is alright. Hemingway puts Scott and Dunc into a taxi and continues to worry about Scott until he sees him again at the Lilas a few days later. Hemingway apologizes for his behavior, but Scott has no idea what he is talking about; he says he was simply bored by the British people there and decided to go home. Hemingway remarks that there weren’t any British people there, but then realizes he is wrong and he admits that Scott is right. Scott scolds Hemingway for trying to make “mysteries” just because he’s been drinking.

Scott and Hemingway talk about the café they are in and about Scott’s recent writing. Scott wants Hemingway to read The Great Gatsby, and the way Scott talks about it belies how good it actually is. Scott tells Hemingway that the book is not selling very well, although it has received critical acclaim. However, Scott isn’t bitter about it, and instead is “shy and happy” about the book. They sit outside on the terrace of the Lilas and drink whisky sodas. Scott explains that his wife, Zelda, has abandoned their car because of “bad weather” and asks if Hemingway would like to join him on a trip to Lyon to pick up the car. It is late spring and Hemingway likes Scott, so he agrees to accompany him on the trip. Hadley also thinks the trip is a “splendid idea.” As Scott is an older writer, Hemingway thinks that he will have much to learn from him. Hemingway is shocked to hear that Scott writes good stories and then adapts them for submission to the Post; he wants to persuade Scott to abandon the practice, but feels he does not have the authority to do so because he has not yet written a novel himself.

Hadley is happy that Hemingway is going on the trip, though she isn’t impressed by Scott as a writer (Hemingway notes that “her idea of a good writer was Henry James”). Hemingway is selling stories and is saving money for future travels. When he arrives at the Gare de Lyon he does not see Scott, who has their tickets. As the time of their train’s departure approaches Hemingway gets on the train, hoping that Scott is already aboard. He explains the situation to the conductor and buys a second-class ticket. While on the train, Hemingway drinks a bottle of wine and thinks it was stupid of him to accept a trip that was ostensibly being paid for. Feeling angry, he “demote[s]” Scott from “Scott” to “Fitzgerald.” Once he arrives in Lyon, Hemingway discovers that Scott has left Paris but has not provided details of where he is staying in Lyon. Hemingway goes to a café and has a drink with a professional fire-eater, who then takes him to a cheap but good Algerian restaurant. The two men discuss Hemingway’s writing, and the fire-eater suggests to Hemingway that the fire eater tell Hemingway stories for Hemingway to write out, and that they split the profits. Hemingway pays for the meal and leaves, saying he will see the fire-eater soon.

Hemingway notes that Lyon is not “cheerful” at night; he adds that it is the kind of town you enjoy if you have money. Scott has left no word at the hotel, so Hemingway happily falls asleep while reading Turgenev. In the morning, the front desk calls to say there is a man to see Hemingway, and Hemingway requests that they send him up. Scott doesn’t come up, but when they meet at the desk he immediately apologizes. Hemingway forgives him, wanting to mend their relations for the rest of the trip. Scott tells him that Zelda is sick and that “the whole trip has been disastrous so far.” They eat a “big American breakfast” in the hotel, and Scott insists that they eat lunch there too. Hemingway thinks to himself that this lunch costs “four or five times” what it would if they ate elsewhere. It is clear that Scott has been drinking before coming to meet Hemingway, and Hemingway suggests they both get a whisky. After this, Hemingway pays for the room and drinks using the money he has been saving for Spain, even though Scott tried to pay for everything. Hemingway plans to borrow money if necessary from Sylvia Beach.

The men go to the garage and Hemingway is surprised to see that Scott’s car has no top; this is because Zelda hates car tops and instructed Scott to have it cut off. The mechanic says he tried to fix the car top, but Scott wouldn’t let him. On the drive back they are “halted by rain possibly ten times.” Once they finally arrive back in Lyon, they have a lavish lunch of roast chicken and wine, which they drink from the bottle. Scott confesses to Hemingway that he is worried about his health, having recently heard of two people dying from “congestion of the lungs.” The men debate illnesses and their prevalence in Europe versus other parts of the world. Hemingway assures Scott that “a good white wine” fights congestion of the lungs, and urges him to drink more. Scott asks Hemingway if he is afraid to die, and Hemingway replies “more at some times than at others.” Later, Scott admits that he wouldn’t mind dying of congestion of the lungs but is worried about who would look after Zelda and their daughter Scotty. Although Hemingway doesn’t imagine it would be possible, he assures Scott that he will take care of Zelda and Scotty if necessary.

At the hotel, Scott lies on the bed. Hemingway checks his temperature and his heartbeat and promises him that he is “perfectly O.K..” Hemingway suggests that he order them a lemonade and whisky, but Scott remains anxious and insists that Hemingway ring for a thermometer. Hemingway feels tired of the “literary life” and of Scott and his antics. He can’t feel anger at Scott but instead feels anger at himself for getting involved in the situation; he knows that “drunkards” die from pneumonia but he doesn’t believe that Scott is a true drunkard because he is strongly affected by such small amounts of alcohol. Hemingway notes that in European culture drinking is very normal, and that at the time he didn’t really understand alcoholism. Eventually the waiter brings the whiskies, lemon juice, and water, but he tells Hemingway that the pharmacy is closed and therefore he was unable to get a thermometer. Scott protests that the waiter did not understand the seriousness of the situation and that the only way to get through to waiters is through tipping. Scott hates the French, the Italians, and “often” the English. Hemingway gives him the whisky and aspirin, which he takes with “admirable calm.”

Hemingway feels happy, before realizing that Scott finds him “too happy.” Scott accuses him of being “a cold one” and demands he take his temperature. The waiter brings Hemingway the only thermometer in the hotel; Hemingway takes Scott’s temperature and assures him it is 37 degrees, which is normal. Scott insists that Hemingway take his own temperature as well. Hemingway promises Scott that they are both fine, failing to tell him that the thermometer isn’t working. Hemingway advises Scott to stay in bed and have a “light supper,” but Scott wants to call Zelda to tell her he is alright. He tells Hemingway that this is the first night they’ve spent apart since being married. Hemingway doesn’t quite believe this, but says nothing. Scott downs his whisky sour and the waiter brings two more drinks. After Scott calls Zelda, he enthusiastically tells Hemingway about how he first met her during the war. Hemingway notes that he later tells different versions of this story “as though trying them for use in a novel.”

Scott tells Hemingway a story about Zelda falling in love with a “French naval aviator” at St.-Raphael, and Hemingway finds it hard to understand how Scott stayed with her. For dinner, they eat snails and drink wine; then Scott’s call from Zelda comes, and afterward he doesn’t want to eat anything. Scott passes out at the table and Hemingway, now alone at dinner, resolves to “cut all drinking to the minimum” starting the next day. The next day they drive to Paris and Scott happily tells Hemingway all about the writer Michael Arlen. At meals Hemingway orders “the lightest wine possible” and tells Scott that he can’t drink much because he wants to write. Back at home, Hemingway is delighted to see Hadley, and Hemingway tells her that he learned to never go on trips with people you don’t love. The couple remark again about how lucky they are and knock on wood. Soon Scott sends Hemingway a copy of The Great Gatsby and Hemingway is impressed, but he also notes that at that time he didn’t know “the terrible odds” that were against Scott in the form of Zelda.