Hardcover, 140 pages
English language
Published September 1952 by Charles Scribner's Sons.
The last of his novels Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the most enduring works of American fiction. The story of a down-on-his-luck Cuban fisherman and his supreme ordeal—a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream—has been cherished by generations of readers.
Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of adversity and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic.
I was not impressed, but definitely entertained. Good writing, it made me feel things, definitely. But at the end of the day... that is it. Just a single-afternoon short story about an old man having a very rough couple days at work trying to gain back some respect from himself. I hope he is fine, now.
My first Hemingway. I never even realized how short this book was. A very simple story. A nice time. A meditation on stoicism, man’s role in nature (how much are we allowed to take?), etc. I can’t pretend to know what all the deeper meaning is (if there is any), but I enjoyed my time with Santiago a lot.
Definitely will read more Hemingway.
I read Old Man and the Sea maybe 10+ years ago and decided to revisit after reading A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway. I did not enjoy A Farewell to Arms the ending was abrupt, the story meandered, plus I did not like the writing style or felt any connection with the characters. So, I was wondering, is Hemingway overrated?
The Old Man and the Sea puts that to rest, it is a wonderful book, great characters with the old man, the boy, the fish, and the sea itself. The story is well told and concise, filled with the details and struggles that make it easy to connect with.
No conclusion on Hemingway, maybe he's just inconsistent like the rest of us. I'll have to read more from him.
