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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

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What listeners say about The Old Man and the Sea

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hemingway read masterfully

As a fan of Hemingway I had shied away from this story because I suspected that Hemingway was long past his prime when it was written and the Pulitzer a mercy prize.

I could not have been more wrong. The story is so compelling that later in the novella I often stopped the audio to absorb and visualize what had been said.

If you aren't sure that Hemingway is for you, Donald Sutherland's reading is perfection. He is an objective bystander with subtle nuance in his voice surrounding the Old Man's epic story. I have listend to many audibles and I can not envision a better voice or interpretation.

Hemingway is the old man, and the old man is Hemingway. There was nothing left for Hemingway to write after this story was complete. The sea was his writing and his struggle. Even if you have read the story, or read a lot of Hemingway listen as audible. Beautiful and perfect.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Breathtakingly beautiful

This is the first of Hemingway's work that I've consumed, and what an impression he makes. The imagery is so, so beautiful, and his writing is superb. It's subtle and affecting. This is such a brief story, I won't go into the plot so that's it's all new. But there is sadness, victory, defeat, a bleak realism, and love... it made me feel so many things. I can't recommend it enough.

And Donald Sutherland's performance is just perfection! I can't imagine a better person to give voice to this tale.

Be sure to look up the person / circumstances that inspired this Pulitzer winner. There's another one off the list!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A book for old men

I read this in high school...because it was the shortest book in a list from which I had to chose a book. I found it interesting but not much more.
Now in my 60’s, obviously it means a bit more. Hemingway’s sparse prose does not, I think, read well. This is the first audio of Hemingway for me and I think I’ll do more. It is a great listen and Sutherland, while not the obvious choice as a reader, was for me perfect. All in all a fine experience.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Narration!

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

This sits about in the middle of the road for me. I'm really not a fan of fiction, but this book pulled me in.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great read highly recommend

Love the way Hemingway describes this adventure in simple but clear detail. There were times when I could smell the ocean and feel the line in my hand. The strength of the old man and his endurance along with his skill was captivating. The soft spot in his heart for the boy made him even more real.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Damn Galanos

A crippling, amazing story. Sutherland is both grave and hopeful, capturing the struggle and resilience embedded in Hemingway's prose.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen!!

Not a fan of everything Hemingway did but I love this story. So well written. Donald Sutherland’s narration was superb.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An old man listens to an old man

What's left to say about Hemingway and this story? Listen and judge for yourself. Selah.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

one of the all time greats.

A hint of the glory of mankind can be found here. Along with the bitter awareness that the main character is rich precisely where the reader is poor.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Story

Great story and a wonderful reader. A truly classic novel by Hemingway. I have read this book many times.

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