Meet New Books
Book Cover

The Old Man and the Sea

Save:
Find on Amazon

'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway is a classic tale of an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago who sets out to sea in search of a big catch. The story follows Santiago's epic battle with a giant marlin, his struggles against nature, and his internal and external challenges. Hemingway's writing style in this book is described as sparse yet descriptive, allowing readers to feel the heat of the sun and the coolness of the sea, creating a powerful and immersive reading experience.

Characters:

Santiago is a complex character marked by endurance and humility, while Manolin represents unwavering support and connection.

Writing/Prose:

Hemingway employs a minimalistic and straightforward writing style that conveys deep emotion and vivid imagery.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Santiago, an aging fisherman, who struggles against a marlin and the overwhelming odds of nature.

Setting:

The setting transitions from Santiago's humble village to the dramatic expanses of the ocean, emphasizing themes of isolation.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and contemplative, allowing for emotional depth during Santiago's long struggle at sea.
H e was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days with...

Notes:

The Old Man and the Sea was first published in 1952, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1953.
Hemingway's writing style in this novella is characterized by simplicity and repetition.
The old man, Santiago, symbolizes perseverance and the indomitable human spirit, often reflecting Hemingway's own struggles.
The novella is set in Cuba and deeply explores themes of nature, struggle, and human dignity.
Santiago's relationship with the boy, Manolin, emphasizes themes of friendship and mentorship, showing love across generations.
The title's emphasis on 'the sea' highlights the importance of nature as both a challenge and a source of life to Santiago.
Santiago's battle with the marlin serves as an allegory for man's struggle against greater forces in life.
Hemingway, while claiming there is no symbolism in the novella, invites various interpretations, making it a subject for much literary analysis.

From The Publisher:

Ernest Hemingway's most beloved and popular novel ever, with millions of copies sold-now featuring early drafts and supplementary material as well as a personal foreword by the only living son of the author, Patrick Hemingway, and an introduction by the author's grandson Seán Hemingway.

The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the enduring works of American fiction. It is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal: a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream.

Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novel confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Ratings (327)

Incredible (24)
Loved It (84)
Liked It (92)
It Was OK (73)
Did Not Like (42)
Hated It (12)

Reader Stats (551):

Read It (349)
Currently Reading (3)
Want To Read (97)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (97)

3 comment(s)

Did Not Like
1 week

Book one of my reading challenge- a book you were supposed to read in school but didn't

 
Did Not Like
6 months

masturbatory fishing fantasy.

 
It Was OK
6 months

a very obvious metaphor, but nicely done.

 

About the Author:

Ernest Hemingway did more to change the style of English prose than any other writer of his time. Publication of The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms immediately established Hemingway as one of the greatest literary lights of the twentieth century. His classic novel The Old Man and the Sea won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. His life and accomplishments are explored in-depth in the PBS documentary film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Hemingway. Known for his larger-than-life personality and his passions for bullfighting, fishing, and big-game hunting, he died in Ketchum, Idaho on July 2, 1961.

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.