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The Old Man and The Sea, Book Cover May Vary Paperback – May 5, 1995

by Ernest Hemingway (Author)

4.5 41,182 ratings

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The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, 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.

Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novella confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

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128 pages
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English
Lexile measure

940L
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.3 x 8 inches
Publication date

May 5, 1995
ISBN-10

0684801221
ISBN-13

978-0684801223
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Editorial Reviews

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Here, for a change, is a fish tale that actually does honor to the author. In fact The Old Man and the Sea revived Ernest Hemingway's career, which was foundering under the weight of such postwar stinkers as Across the River and into the Trees. It also led directly to his receipt of the Nobel Prize in 1954 (an award Hemingway gladly accepted, despite his earlier observation that "no son of a bitch that ever won the Nobel Prize ever wrote anything worth reading afterwards"). A half century later, it's still easy to see why. This tale of an aged Cuban fisherman going head-to-head (or hand-to-fin) with a magnificent marlin encapsulates Hemingway's favorite motifs of physical and moral challenge. Yet Santiago is too old and infirm to partake of the gun-toting machismo that disfigured much of the author's later work: "The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords." Hemingway's style, too, reverts to those superb snapshots of perception that won him his initial fame: Just before it was dark, as they passed a great island of Sargasso weed that heaved and swung in the light sea as though the ocean were making love with something under a yellow blanket, his small line was taken by a dolphin. He saw it first when it jumped in the air, true gold in the last of the sun and bending and flapping wildly in the air. If a younger Hemingway had written this novella, Santiago most likely would have towed the enormous fish back to port and posed for a triumphal photograph--just as the author delighted in doing, circa 1935. Instead his prize gets devoured by a school of sharks. Returning with little more than a skeleton, he takes to his bed and, in the very last line, cements his identification with his creator: "The old man was dreaming about the lions." Perhaps there's some allegory of art and experience floating around in there somewhere--but The Old Man and the Sea was, in any case, the last great catch of Hemingway's career. --James Marcus

Review

“A beautiful tale, awash in the seasalt and sweat, bait and beer of the Havana coast. It tells a fundamental human truth: in a volatile world, from our first breath to our last wish, through triumphs and pitfalls both trivial and profound, what sustains us, ultimately, is hope.”
—The Guardian

“His masterpiece... a perfect piece of work.”
—Mario Vargas Llosa

“The old man embodies the ambition and courage it takes to live, and the need to redeem yourself again and again in your own eyes. When at last after ntold agonies you hook the prize, the achievement of a lifetime, the biggest damn fish out there…it falls apart. The story is about the fact that life ends—a hard-to-ignore truth that we spend our days ignoring. All you have is the moment, this moment.”
—Abraham Verghese

"Here is the master technician once more at the top of his form, doing superbly what he can do better than anyone else.”
—The New York Times

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.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

from The Old Man and the Sea

He 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 without a fish the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week. It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff empty and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and the sail that was furled around the mast. The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat.

The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords. But none of these scars were fresh. They were as old as erosions in a fishless desert.

Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated.

"Santiago," the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was hauled up. "I could go with you again. We've made some money."

The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.

"No," the old man said. "You're with a lucky boat. Stay with them."

"But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks."

"I remember," the old man said. "I know you did not leave me because you doubted."

"It was papa made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him."

"I know," the old man said. "It is quite normal."

"He hasn't much faith."

"No," the old man said. "But we have. Haven't we?"

"Yes," the boy said. "Can I offer you a beer on the Terrace and then we'll take the stuff home."

"Why not?" the old man said. "Between fishermen."

They sat on the Terrace and many of the fishermen made fun of the old man and he was not angry. Others, of the older fishermen, looked at him and were sad. But they did not show it and they spoke politely about the current and the depths they had drifted their lines at and the steady good weather and of what they had seen. The successful fishermen of that day were already in and had butchered their marlin out and carried them laid full length across two planks, with two men staggering at the end of each plank, to the fish house where they waited for the ice truck to carry them to the market in Havana. Those who had caught sharks had taken them to the shark factory on the other side of the cove where they were hoisted on a block and tackle, their livers removed, their fins cut off and their hides skinned out and their flesh cut into strips for salting.

When the wind was in the east a smell came across the harbour from the shark factory; but today there was only the faint edge of the odour because the wind had backed into the north and then dropped off and it was pleasant and sunny on the Terrace.

"Santiago," the boy said.

"Yes," the old man said. He was holding his glass and thinking of many years ago.

"Can I go out to get sardines for you for tomorrow?"

"No. Go and play baseball. I can still row and Rogelio will throw the net."

"I would like to go. If I cannot fish with you, I would like to serve in some way."

"You bought me a beer," the old man said. "You are already a man."

"How old was I when you first took me in a boat?"

"Five and you nearly were killed when I brought the fish in too green and he nearly tore the boat to pieces. Can you remember?"

"I can remember the tail slapping and banging and the thwart breaking and the noise of the clubbing. I can remember you throwing me into the bow where the wet coiled lines were and feeling the whole boat shiver and the noise of you clubbing him like chopping a tree down and the sweet blood smell all over me."

"Can you really remember that or did I just tell it to you?"

"I remember everything from when we first went together."

The old man looked at him with his sun-burned, confident loving eyes.

"If you were my boy I'd take you out and gamble," he said. "But you are your father's and your mother's and you are in a lucky boat."

"May I get the sardines? I know where I can get four baits too."

"I have mine left from today. I put them in salt in the box."

"Let me get four fresh ones."

"One," the old man said. His hope and his confidence had never gone. But now they were freshening as when the breeze rises.

"Two," the boy said.

"Two," the old man agreed. "You didn't steal them?"

"I would," the boy said. "But I bought these."

"Thank you," the old man said. He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride.

"Tomorrow is going to be a good day with this current," he said.

"Where are you going?" the boy asked.

"Far out to come in when the wind shifts. I want to be out before it is light."

"I'll try to get him to work far out," the boy said. "Then if you hook something truly big we can come to your aid."

"He does not like to work too far out."

"No," the boy said. "But I will see something that he cannot see such as a bird working and get him to come out after dolphin."

"Are his eyes that bad?"

"He is almost blind."

"It is strange," the old man said. "He never went turtle-ing. That is what kills the eyes."

"But you went turtle-ing for years off the Mosquito Coast and your eyes are good."

"I am a strange old man."

"But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?"

"I think so. And there are many tricks."

Copyright © 1952 by Ernest Hemingway

Copyright renewed © 1980 by Mary Hemingway

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Reissue edition (May 5, 1995)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0684801221
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0684801223
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 17+ years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 940L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.74 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.3 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,359 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6 in Sea Stories
- #78 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #262 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 41,182 ratings

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Ernest Hemingway

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Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899. His father was a doctor and he was the second of six children. Their home was at Oak Park, a Chicago suburb.

In 1917, Hemingway joined the Kansas City Star as a cub reporter. The following year, he volunteered as an ambulance driver on the Italian front, where he was badly wounded but decorated for his services. He returned to America in 1919, and married in 1921. In 1922, he reported on the Greco-Turkish war before resigning from journalism to devote himself to fiction. He settled in Paris where he renewed his earlier friendships with such fellow-American expatriates as Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. Their encouragement and criticism were to play a valuable part in the formation of his style.

Hemingway's first two published works were Three Stories and Ten Poems and In Our Time but it was the satirical novel, The Torrents of Spring, that established his name more widely. His international reputation was firmly secured by his next three books; Fiesta, Men Without Women and A Farewell to Arms.

He was passionately involved with bullfighting, big-game hunting and deep-sea fishing and his writing reflected this. He visited Spain during the Civil War and described his experiences in the bestseller, For Whom the Bell Tolls.

His direct and deceptively simple style of writing spawned generations of imitators but no equals. Recognition of his position in contemporary literature came in 1954 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, following the publication of The Old Man and the Sea. He died in 1961.

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M. C Cardoso

Wonderful story-telling; mature Hemingway delivers. Santiago is a great character.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2009

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Hemingway delivered his last masterpiece with this book, a cultural phenomenon when first published in the early '50s: in an unprecedented move, Life Magazine published the novella in its entirety,recognizing that Hemingway, the most influential writer of 20th century American literature and then a world-wide celebrity, had delivered a long-awaited masterful story. The Life magazine edition sold more than 5 million copies in a week so this book reached tens of millions of people within days - not many authors can achieve that! And that's before becoming a much beloved story translated into scores of languages. It is fair to say that this book, which won the Pullitzer Prize, reignited the interest and respect for Hemingway as a serious writer and might have been the decisive factor for his Nobel Prize award.

It is so disappointing when people say that story is boring and has too much simbolism... if you have experience fishing or sailing or simply appreciating the sea and nature, then the book offers a marvellous account of man AND nature (not man vs. nature). As for the simbolism, don't dwell too much on it. Hemingway himself said that the book is about "an old man, a boy, a fish and the sea", but if the story is told well enough (as it is on this book) it can mean so much more.

And the story is indeed so much more, in no small part because of the inherent goodness of the old man. That's how I enjoy and interpret the book: it is a straightforward tale of an old man embracing the struggles and rewards of life with courage, dignity and still full of the human spirit. Santiago is one of the most dignified characters in Literature, and I have to say he is my favorite and a bit of a personal hero... the old fisherman strives to be the best he can be and do the best he can do... he does not complain of his living in poverty, do not blame others for anything. His spirit is big, generous, undefeated. While other Hemingway heroes might have disappointed some people by way of too much machismo, Santiago keeps all the best traits of courage, resilience and non-nonsense survivalism, while displaying more maturity and humility - perhaps reflecting the middle-age wisdom of the author (then is his fifties).

Hemingway story-telling skills are at his best here. I am a big fan of his style, particularly in the short-story format, but here he is astounding all the way. yeah, the prose is deceptively simple at first, but if you pay attention we can see the craft of a master. The opening sentence alone is formidable and could only be delivered by a master of the short-story format. Ihe last sentence is also wonderful and pure Hemingway- simple but infinitely deep, and in this story hopeful and bitter-sweet.

In between, Hemingway writes with uncanny power,in such a way that you can fully experience what the character is going through: first you see what the old man does, from mundane tasks and spadework to the excitement of the deep-sea hunt and the exhausting struggle, and in the process you start to think the way Santiago thinks and finally you are feeling the way he feels. It is magical if you only give it a try. Granted, it is easier to immerse into this story if you are familiar with the ways of fishing and the ocean, but in any case, when Santiago is alone in the boat looking at the sea creatures or at the night-sky... I guess the recognition of the infinite solitude of human condition, mitigated by the bonding with the life and the world around us, that is truly universal.

I am so glad that such a sweet, simple, timeless story became the classic that it is. You have to try this one too!

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Brittany Spinosa

A great classic

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024

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Loved this book, such a classic. This is a great hard copy to have in hand and read before bed every night. Great value thanks Amazon!

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024

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I like it. But there were some spelling and grammar errors. I like Hemmingway's simple style of writing. He is an incredible writer!

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Florida Dad

Quality copy of a timeless classic

Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2023

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I bought this as my son needed it for his high school English class. The cover design is beautiful, the font is easy to read, and the print is clear. This really is a quality copy of a Hemmingway classic. It is not a lengthy book - only 128 pages (including, title page, about the author, etc.). I'd encourage kids to read this one and not go straight for the CliffsNotes! If we all read more of the classics, we'd speak better, write better, and open ourselves up to a world much bigger, more interesting, and more thought provoking than what we typically surround ourselves with each day.

7 people found this helpful

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Steve

It so mirrors life

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024

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Ups, downs, wins and losses. Hard work can sometimes lead to naught but still we learn from that. The book says so much to be so short. It shows us what can be accomplished even when things are stacked against us and we can overcome them by perseverance. The example of bone spurs that Joe D had and still accomplished what he did. I’ll bet the old man kept on fishing but I also believe he would cut the line the next time he hooked a big one. The more we pay for a lesson, the more it is remembered.

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024

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One of the best novels ever written. Deserving of its awards. A classic that all men and boys should read.

One person found this helpful

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Noelle McNamee

Great Read

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023

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I absolutely loved this book. This book was part of my high school curriculum when I was there, many years ago, so when I saw this book on my friend’s book shelf, I asked to borrow it. My teacher and I would spend time after class discussing this book, and that’s when I fell in love with Hemingway. The writing is immaculate, and the characters are strong and interesting. A truly great story.

2 people found this helpful

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Anna

Nice book and very new.

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024

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Great, I am satisfied with this book.

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Ryan chan

Quick read, life lasting story

Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2024

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I binged this book in two hours (or so). Some of the most memorable Hemingway quotes come from here.

Worth reading if you ever want to get into Hemingway

Célio Lino

Um bom livro para praticar seu inglês.

Reviewed in Brazil on May 24, 2023

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É um livro de fácil entendimento com um vocabulário muito simples. Recomendo para quem está começando a praticar seu inglês. Já um leitor mais avançado, recomendaria obras um pouco mais complexas. Mesmo assim, foi uma boa experiência.

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Ricardo A. Rodriguez

Una alusión al esfuerzo y lucha en la vida

Reviewed in Mexico on October 18, 2021

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Me gusto el paralelismo de la historia con la lucha y esfuerzo que muchos tenemos que hacer en la vida para lograr lo que deseamos. El pez es el objetivo, lo que deseamos, la cuerda y la lancha, los recursos, el mar, las circunstancias, lo tiburones, los obstáculos, el niño, un apoyo, un amigo.

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Ian D.

Charming

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2024

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Long overdue read ,charming book which keeps you captivated from start to finish,a classic everyone should read at least once

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A Timeless Tale of Tenacity and the Sea!

Reviewed in India on February 28, 2024

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The Old Man and the Sea is like a masterclass in resilience and the raw power of nature! Hemingway's simple yet profound storytelling takes you on a journey with Santiago, an old fisherman determined to prove his worth against the might of the sea. Sure, it's a short read, but every word packs a punch. You'll feel the salty spray on your face and the strain of the fishing line as if you're right there beside Santiago on his epic struggle. It's a tale of courage, perseverance, and the indomitable spirit of humanity. So if you're looking for a classic that'll tug at your heartstrings, dive into this gem of a book!

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