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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.

Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration - Male, 2007

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What listeners say about The Old Man and the Sea

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A lovely story.

I read The Old Man And The Sea many years ago; fifty or more, I think? What a touching story to hear it read so beautifully.

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This is an amazing audiobook

Genius level writing meets genius level narration. I was hooked from the opening paragraph. I will be looking for more like this

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Perfect match

A perfect match of narrator and story. Impossible not to get involved and emotional hearing this masterpiece.

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Hemingway’s best

This book is a testament that just cause your body is not as strong as it used to be, doesn’t mean that you’re useless compared to the younger folk out there. That’s because through experience your mind has sharpened to make up for your bodies deficiencies. Hemingway does an excellent job portraying this struggle all humans go through in this thrilling narrative of an old man’s struggle to prove he’s not obsolete.

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Great book, sad ending

Narrarator was a bit fast at first but got into the role shortly thereafter. Great book, heartbreaking ending.

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very good reading

Where does The Old Man and the Sea rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 10

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Old Man and the Sea?

i liked the symbolism of youth and aging. the struggle with life in old age symbolized by the fish.

Any additional comments?

This is a good reading with good sound and recording. A classic tale.

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love this book, very detailed

the book was amazing, loved it, very detailed, I could see everything Mr Sutherland was saying he did an amazing job telling the story

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Papa was an amazing and beautiful writer!

The Old Man And The Sea is, by far, my favorite book of Papa's. He had this way of drawing you into his world. While Donald Sutherland is a fave of mine, I found his narration rather lackluster for such a beautiful story. But, to be honest...one does not READ Hemingway's stories. One LIVES Hemingway's stories.

I have often wondered if he wrote this about his near successes and failures of trying to establish himself as a writer. How much of him was "the old man"? But, no matter what book you read, you see Papa's heart and soul in every word.

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Ernest Hemingway you the man

Amazing. Will be traveling to key West to see his home in the next few months since this book inspired me to do that.

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It's the only book I listen to over and over

It's perfect.
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