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As I noted earlier today, State Rep. Mark B. Cohen wrote Brian Tierney to express his support for the unions in the ongoing labor dispute. Tierney responded with a quick letter, much of it consisting of one 136-word sentence that echoed some of Ernest Hemingway’s greatest long sentences.
I realize that not all of you were English majors and not all of you have read all of Hemingway’s works, let alone the one I referenced, “ The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.” (I wasn’t a good enough English major to remember that short stories get quotes and not italics in my earlier post, so we’ll call it even.)
After the jump, a comparison of Hemingway’s and Tierney’s greatest sentences, and the differences and similarities between the two.
| Author |
Ernest Hemingway |
Brian Tierney |
| Sentence |
The car was going a wild forty-five miles an hour across the open and as Macomber watched, the buffalo got bigger and bigger until he could see the gray, hairless, scabby look of one huge bull and how his neck was a part of his shoulders and the shiny black of his horns as he galloped a little behind the others that were strung out in that steady plunging gait; and then, the car swaying as though it had just jumped a road, they drew up close ands he could see the plunging hugeness of the bull, and the dust in his sparsely haired hide, the wide boss of horn and his outstretched, wide-nostrilled muzzle, and he was raising his rifle when Wilson shouted, “Not from the car, you fool!” and he had no fear, only hatred of Wilson, while the brakes clamped on and the car skidded, plowing sideways to an almost stop and Wilson was out on one side and he on the other, stumbling as his feet hit the still speeding-by of the earth, and then he was shooting at the bull as he moved away, hearing the bullets whunk into him, emptying his riffle at him as he moved steadily away, finally remembering to get his shots forward into the shoulder, and as he fumbled to reload, he saw the bull was down. |
We are in meetings as we speak and so I won’t be able to respond more fully—but know that the things we are requesting are based on a very thoughtful review of this paper as well as those around the country we admire—the concerns about seniority being the sole determinant are based upon a desire to foster the highest quality, and importantly, diversity—sadly, if we base things only on seniority it will make us a much less diverse news organization—it concerns me that we won’t reflect the diversity of our community—and it is obvious that are more recent hires are more diverse than those with more seniority—so, in the end it’s about balance—focusing in the end on excellence because that is what will best serve our community and the great traditions of this wonderful organization. |
| Sentence Length |
228 words |
136 words |
| First Published |
1936, in “The Short Happy Life Of Francis Macomber” |
2006, in a letter to Pennsylvania State Rep. Mark B. Cohen |
| Wikipedia Entry? |
Both Ernest Hemingway and the short story itself |
Only Brian Tierney |
| Is Wikipedia Entry Longer Than Actual Sentence? |
Yes |
Yes |
| Author’s Death |
1961, self-inflicted gunshot wound |
Still living |
| Continent Where Sentence Is Set |
Africa |
North America |
| Number Of Bulls Killed |
1 |
0 |
| Sentence’s Meaning |
The story’s title character, Francis Macomber, has shot a bull. |
If Brian Tierney cannot change the seniority rules, he will have to lay off black people. |
| Reasons For Sentence’s Length |
Hemingway’s sentence is meant to convey the speed and the thrill of hunting game in Africa, especially in a car moving 45 miles an hour, as well as the change in Macomber from a timid man castrated by his wife to a strong hunter, able of downing a bull after jumping out of a car. |
Despite owning a newspaper, Brian Tierney does not know how to use punctuation. |
| Is Francis Macomber Killed At End Of Publication That Sentence Is In |
Yes |
Yes |
The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber [Short Story Classics]
Earlier today: Citizen Tierney, Internet Mayor Clash
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