Bear, like the Turk, no rival near the throne.
—Alexander Pope
Hemingway and Malraux, the outstanding modern examples of the artist in action, had hostile and combative relations. Each respected the other’s great novels, but loathed many of his rival’s personal characteristics and saw through his painfully constructed façade of lies. Malraux criticized Hemingway’s machismo, boastfulness, and apparent simple-mindedness. Hemingway condemned Malraux’s dandyism, pomposity, and tedious philosophical monologues. Malraux was fascinated by his own torrential disquisitions. His facial tics, which magnetized many, irritated Hemingway. Since Hemingway spoke French and Malraux had no English, they always talked to each other in the language of Malraux, who had an unfair advantage in their face-to-face confrontations. Hemingway tried hard to understand the voluble Malraux but didn’t think the necessary concentration was worth the effort. The two writers were both vulnerable and aggressive, egoistic and abrasive. Sensing a formidable rival, each watched the other jealously and attacked him in verbal and printed combats that lasted for three decades. It was typical of Hemingway to challenge a threatening competitor and of Malraux to retaliate with caustic comments.
They had, apart from nationality and inherited religion, some notable differences. Hemingway was a good athlete; the awkward Malraux had no interest in sports. Hemingway lived simply and rejected a hedonistic way of life; Malraux liked luxurious living and expensive restaurants. Scrupulous about money, Hemingway (though cheated by his lawyer) left a sizable fortune; Malraux, living well above his income, left a pile
