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The Old Man and the Sea

By: Ernest Hemingway
Narrated by: Donald Sutherland
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Publisher's summary

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 Hemingway's power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

©1952 Ernest Hemingway (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon and Schuster Audio Division, Simon and Schuster Inc.
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Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration - Male, 2007

Featured Article: The top 100 classics of all time


Before we whipped out our old high school syllabi and dug deep into our libraries to start selecting contenders for this list, we first had to answer the question, "How do we define a classic?" The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might guess, though there’s a lot to be said for the old adage, "You know it when you see it" (or, in this case, hear it). Of course, most critically, each of our picks had to be fabulous in audio. So dust off your aspirational listening list—we have some amazing additions you don’t want to miss.

What listeners say about The Old Man and the Sea

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Classic

My first Hemingway read and now I know . Truly awesome. I’ll spend this summer just reading Hemingway.

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Now I understand the allure of Hemingway.

I thought at first I would struggle to listen... it was very slow-paced. I had seen the documentary on Hemingway and how he wrote simply but true to life and with such power and majesty. This short story helped me understand why he was such a successful author and really groundbreaking in his simplistic use of language to draw the reader in and immerse him in a tale.... just as if you were in the boat with the old man.

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Sutherland was a perfect fit for this narration.

Perfect road trip listen. It's hard to reconcile the determination of the main character against the tortured end of the author. Perhaps he identified more with the fish.

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enjoyable performance

Very good way to become acquainted with Hemingway. Sutherlands performance is great- the characters stand out

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Beautiful and poignant

makes you think about your own life your pride your struggle just a tale for the ages

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Simply Amazing

I’m not a fan of Hemingway, but this book was unbelievable. The narration was beyond perfect, the story so touching and captivated me from start to finish. Absolutely recommend.

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The story comes alive

What made the experience of listening to The Old Man and the Sea the most enjoyable?

The narrator really makes the story come alive, and the story itself is a Hemingway staple. The story is one of perseverence in the face of extraordinary challenges.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Santiago.

Which character – as performed by Donald Sutherland – was your favorite?

Santiago.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no.

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Utterly Beautiful

Donald Sutherland wondersjob captivating you in this amazingly written novel. Truly one of Hemingway's masterworks.

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headline

best fishing story I've ever heard, really serves as a cautionary tale about sharks, and the need to always have a well stocked ship (extra harpoons, rope, sails, etc.).

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Beautiful

Loved this. The reading was lyrical. I will listen again and again. Great story for anyone.

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