Artists & Writers · 20th Century
Ernest Hemingway’s Last Words
“Goodnight, my kitten.”— Ernest Hemingway, July 2, 1961
Who Was Ernest Hemingway?
Ernest Hemingway won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his spare, powerful prose style. His novels The Old Man and the Sea, A Farewell to Arms, and The Sun Also Rises defined American modernist literature.
The Final Moments
Hemingway spoke these words to his wife Mary the night before he shot himself with his favorite shotgun at their home in Ketchum, Idaho. He had suffered physical decline and depression.
Are These Words Verified?
Mary Hemingway directly reported these as his last words to her the night before his suicide in her memoir and to investigators. As his wife present at the scene, she is the primary credible source.
Sources
- firsthand Mary Hemingway, 'How It Was' (memoir)
- biography Carlos Baker, official biographer
- archive Police reports from July 2, 1961
Legacy
Hemingway's minimalist prose style and themes of masculinity, war, and loss made him one of the 20th century's most influential writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Ernest Hemingway’s last words?
“Goodnight, my kitten.”
How did Ernest Hemingway die?
Ernest Hemingway died on July 2, 1961 at the age of 61. Cause of death: Self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Were Ernest Hemingway’s last words documented?
Mary Hemingway directly reported these as his last words to her the night before his suicide in her memoir and to investigators. As his wife present at the scene, she is the primary credible source.
More from Artists & Writers
See all →
Oscar Wilde
“Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.”
Socrates
“Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Please, don't forget to pay the debt.”
Mark Twain
“Goodbye. If we meet—”
Salvador Dalí
“Where is my clock?”