In “The Artist’s Reward”, Dorothy Parker presents a portrait of Ernest Hemingway at a time when his public reputation was expanding rapidly. She begins by mocking the exaggerated stories surrounding him, contrasting the mythology of the hard-living expatriate writer with her own observations. Parker describes his energy, enthusiasm, generosity and dislike of literary social life, while noting his sensitivity to criticism and the demands he places on his own work.

The profile gives particular attention to Hemingway’s discipline as a writer. Parker describes his repeated rewriting of A Farewell to Arms and portrays writing as difficult, sustained labour rather than effortless inspiration. She also considers his friendships, compassion and personal courage. The title comes from Hemingway’s description of the uncertainty that follows prolonged work on a piece of writing. Parker concludes with his concise definition of courage as “grace under pressure”, connecting his artistic standards with the qualities she attributes to his character.