Fine and Dandy: Ernest Hemingway’s Androgynous Connoisseurship

In the familiar territory of sexual fluidity and related aspects of The Garden of Eden and other works, Gutkin, in this chapter from his book, focuses on language—the meaning and possible gender associations of the word “dandy” in Hemingway’s usage, along with related adjectives such as “good,” “nice,” and “fine.” Draws from Walter Pater’s ideas of experience, aesthetics, and expression, especially in relation to Hemingway’s aims to write “truly.” Explores Victorian-era dandyism and connoisseurship and their influence on Hemingway, from “fine” art to “fine” dining. Connects The Garden of Eden to Gautier’s Mademoiselle de Maupin (1835) in terms of the “hermaphroditic ideal” and “psychological interiority.” Reiterates Hemingway’s obsession with the culinary implications of sexual identity and performance in The Garden of Eden