Morley Callaghan Great writer that knocked out Ernest Hemingway
On My Walk: Discovering Morley Callaghan at Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery
During my recent walk through Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetery in mid-town Toronto, I came across the grave of one of Canada’s finest short story writers — Morley Callaghan.
Born and raised in Toronto, Morley attended Riverdale Collegiate, a school that also counts notable Canadians like Lincoln Alexander, Punch Imlach, and Gordon Sinclair among its alumni. Though he graduated from law school, Morley’s true passion lay in writing, a calling that would shape Canadian literature for decades.
A youthful Morley Callaghan.
While working as a reporter for The Toronto Star, Morley crossed paths with none other than Ernest Hemingway — a meeting that marked the beginning of a lifelong connection with some of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
Ernest Hemingway at The Toronto Star.
In 1929, eager to hone his craft, Callaghan traveled to Paris, immersing himself in the vibrant literary scene alongside figures like Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. It was in this dynamic setting that a curious event unfolded: a boxing match between Morley Callaghan and Ernest Hemingway.
Despite Hemingway’s reputation as a tough outdoorsman and Callaghan’s experience as a diminutive boxer, it was Callaghan who triumphed. Fitzgerald, serving as the timekeeper, noted that their bout extended into a longer-than-expected second round. Ultimately, Morley landed a powerful punch that sent Hemingway crashing to the canvas, motionless for a moment.
Hemingway’s obsession with boxing.
Legend has it that Hemingway never quite looked at Morley the same way after that—perhaps a bit of a sore loser in this rare literary showdown!
Morley Callaghan died in Toronto on August 25th, 1990. He was 87. He is in an unmarked grave within his family plot.
The critic, Edmund Wilson, referred to Callaghan as the most unjustly neglected writer in the English language.
1903-1990
Chapter 26 has the complete story on the infamous fight and the unfortunate aftermath and hurt feelings.
