Hidden Treasures: Hemingway Celebrated in 250th Franco-American Cultural Exchange

Hidden Treasures, 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories

Each participating Maison is represented through a dedicated display of a singular artifact.

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, one of the most ambitious celebrations of the enduring relationship between France and America recently took place in New York City. Hidden Treasures: 250 Years of Franco-American Luxury Stories brought together 65 of France's most iconic luxury houses, cultural institutions, and historic landmarks to showcase the artistic, cultural, and intellectual exchange that has connected the two nations for centuries.

Among the distinguished participants was the Ritz Paris, a place forever intertwined with the life and legacy of Ernest Hemingway.

Presented alongside photographs of the famed Bar Hemingway were first American editions of A Moveable Feast, Hemingway's beloved memoir of 1920s Paris. The display highlighted one of the most enduring literary relationships in modern history: the bond between Hemingway and the legendary Paris hotel he considered a home away from home.

The connection runs deeper than literary inspiration. Materials that would eventually contribute to A Moveable Feast remained in storage at the Ritz Paris for decades before Hemingway recovered them in the 1950s, adding another chapter to the remarkable relationship between the writer and the legendary hotel.

A Moveable Feast presented at the Ritz Paris display.

The story remains one of the most fascinating intersections of literature and hospitality. As Arnaud Leblin, Director of Corporate Affairs, Ritz Group, explained:

“Since defining modern luxury hospitality in 1898, the Ritz Paris is undoubtedly the hotel featured in the greatest number of American literary works. Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway particularly embodies this attachment to the hotel and its bar, now bearing his name and where the world-famous 'Bloody Mary' was invented for him. He even entrusted the manuscript of “A Moveable Feast” to the Ritz Paris in 1928, only to retrieve it 28 years later. Today, Ritz Paris is so thankful to the Hemingway family to have lent first American editions of this work at the occasion of the Hidden Treasures exhibition.”

The inclusion of Hemingway in Hidden Treasures served as a reminder that luxury is not merely about objects. As Bénédicte Épinay, President and Chief Executive of Comité Colbert, observed during the exhibition, luxury is a living force shaped by the emotions, ideas, and relationships exchanged between nations. Few American writers embody that exchange more completely than Hemingway, whose work helped introduce generations of readers to the cafés, streets, hotels, and spirit of Paris.

The exhibition placed Hemingway in distinguished company. Alongside the Ritz Paris display were contributions from some of France's most celebrated cultural institutions, including the Palace of Versailles, which highlighted its centuries-long relationship with America, and the Louvre Museum, which participated through a presentation connected to its most famous treasure, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The exhibition also featured legendary French houses such as Baccarat, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Dom Pérignon, underscoring the breadth of artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural influence represented throughout the showcase.

The Ritz Paris display at Hidden Treasures

For the Hemingway family, participation in the exhibition was both an honor and a continuation of a relationship that stretches back more than a century. Patrick Hemingway Adams spoke about his family's enduring relationship with the Ritz Paris and the significance of seeing Hemingway's literary legacy celebrated alongside France's most iconic cultural institutions:

“It is a special privilege to see Ernest Hemingway's name and great literary work represented amongst so many icons and giants of French culture. Our family's close connection to the Ritz Paris is a very dear relationship stretching back over one hundred years. We look forward with excitement to the next century to come. For now, the heirs of Ernest Hemingway are humbled and honored to participate in this celebration of our shared history—and future!”

Representing the Hemingway family at Hidden Treasures, Angela Hemingway Charles, described the opportunity as a tremendous honor and shared her perspective on Hemingway's lasting connection to France:

“I was honored to represent the Hemingway family and the enduring literary legacy of Ernest Hemingway at Hidden Treasures, a special celebration marking 250 years of friendship and cultural exchange between France and the United States.

Patrick Hemingway Adams (left) and Angela Hemingway Charles (right) at the Ritz Paris display.

The exhibition brought together 65 distinguished French luxury maisons and cultural institutions, showcasing the remarkable artistic and cultural ties that have long connected our two nations. Among these celebrated participants, the literary work of Ernest Hemingway was featured and warmly received, standing alongside some of France's most respected and iconic institutions.

For our family, this recognition was especially meaningful. Ernest Hemingway's relationship with France was profound and lifelong. Paris was not only the city where he developed as a young writer but also a place that remained close to his heart throughout his life. His enduring connection with the legendary Ritz Paris became an important part of his personal story and literary legacy. And proudly after over 100 years, the relationship with his heirs continues prominently.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the organizers of Hidden Treasures for including Ernest Hemingway's literary contributions in this extraordinary celebration. The event was a beautiful reminder that great literature, art and culture continue to build bridges across time, borders, and generations.”

The reflections shared by Patrick Hemingway Adams and Angela Hemingway Charles underscore what made Hidden Treasures such a meaningful occasion. More than a showcase of extraordinary objects and institutions, the exhibition celebrated the relationships, stories, and cultural connections that continue to unite France and the United States.

That spirit is perhaps best embodied by A Moveable Feast itself. Written from memories of Hemingway's years in Paris and ultimately entrusted to the Ritz Paris for safekeeping, the book stands as both a personal memoir and a lasting testament to the creative exchange between two cultures. It remains one of the most beloved portraits ever written about the city and continues to introduce new generations of readers to the Paris that shaped a young writer who would go on to become one of the most influential literary voices of the twentieth century.

Hidden Treasures may have concluded its run in New York, but the stories it celebrated continue to resonate. From the halls of Versailles to the galleries of the Louvre, from the Ritz Paris to the pages of A Moveable Feast, the exhibition showcased the enduring cultural bonds that have linked France and America for more than 250 years. Among those stories, Ernest Hemingway's remains one of the most enduring—a reminder that great literature, like great friendships between nations, transcends borders, generations, and time itself.

Arnaud Leblin (left), Angela Hemingway Charles (middle), and Patrick Hemingway Adams (right) celebrating the Ritz Paris display at Hidden Treasures.