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The Old Man and the Sea  By  cover art

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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fantastic

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

its on up there. its short but thats what you need after some epics.

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

the old man of course...there arent but a few other charaters total. He did a great job delivering hemimgways direct and spare prose.

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

no, but i will say listening to a fine recording of a classic some 20 something years after i first read the story was a great experience. im glad i was exposed to great literature in school, but its a different experience with a few more miles under my belt.

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Great reading!

Donald Sutherland told a classic story in his soothing voice. I wish he would read more books.

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great story & performance

This is the 1st Ernest Hemingway book that I have heard as an audio book. It is excellent and I highly recommend it

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Superlative

A beautiful stoic tale of life and death. Everyone should read this at least once.

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  • Overall
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Brilliant, relevant and moving.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Old Man and the Sea to be better than the print version?

Different but equal. The writing is so engaging and econimical and the character of old man so real that it's difficult to separate the message from the medium.

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

As the Old Man sat alone in his boat struggling with pain, thirst, weakness and nausea, he recalled a time from his younger days when he engaged a sailer in a 20 hour arm wrestling match. This moment in the story defined raw endurance and determination more effectively than anything else I've ever read.

What does Donald Sutherland bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Donald Southerland reads with great clarity and just enough expression to let the writing tell the story. After listening to the book, I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job than he. His voice, I'm sure, is far superior than my inner reading voice would be.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved by the Old Man's respect for the fish. He never belittled or underestimated his opponent, which lended a fresh perspective to his trade.

Any additional comments?

What can be said about one of the greatest stories ever told? Read it, cherish it, learn from it.

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Beautiful

Donald Sutherland is the perfect voice for the fishermen. The editing could have been better done; sometimes it's far too quiet and you miss vocal nuances. Overall wonderful.

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Hemingway at his simple best...

Hemingway at his simple best, and Sutherland's voice is a perfect match for the written script. Really enjoyed this performance.

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A great read

Would you listen to The Old Man and the Sea again? Why?

Already have, great story of respect, reminds me of the good old world 50 yrs ago

What did you like best about this story?

The respectfull the boy sreved the old man

What about Donald Sutherland’s performance did you like?

how's he

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

all

Any additional comments?

great for the schools to study

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Spectacular reading and amazing story

Donald Sutherland was by far the best Reader that I have ever listened to. The book was every emotion wrapped up together.

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Longing for more

This short story grips at ones curiosity, and adventure seeking imagination. I find it leaves me feeling a little unsatisfied, and wishing I could here more about this Old man's offshore adventures. J.M

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