The Old Man and the Sea

Ernest Hemingway

May 2006 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Donald Sutherland

About this audiobook

2007 Audie Award Finalist for Solo Narration—Male

*Winner of the Pulitzer Prize*
“A beautiful tale, awash in the seasalt and sweat, bait and beer of the Havana coast. It tells a fundamental human truth: in a volatile world, from our first breath to our last wish, through triumphs and pitfalls both trivial and profound, what sustains us, ultimately, is hope.” —The Guardian

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. First published in 1952, this hugely popular tale confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Ratings and reviews

I first encountered this story when it had been released as a movie staring Spencer Tracy as the old man. I was around 8 or 9 yrs old at the time. This is the first time that I have found the book. I am happy to find the movie was true to the book. I was somewhat disappointed by Donald Sutherland's performance reading the story. His voice was well-suited to the old man but he made no vocal variations for the boy or the other characters; however his Spanish was excellent. Despite the flat oral presentation I could see the story unfold in my memory just as I had seen it on the giant screen at the drive-in theater so many years ago.

My only complaint here is Donald Sutherland, whom I otherwise greatly admire. His reading while well voiced is too defeatist here. Yes the Old Man is old and down on his luck but still, Sutherland actually makes the read too defeatist in his aged weary tone. Again, YES, the Old Man IS tired and weary, but here its TOO OVERSTATED in Sutherland's interpretation. The fisherman, despite his age and tiredness is the very object of the fire burning within, the hope and faith even in the face of so much fear. Here though, Sutherland comes off as a dejected loser with barely a spark of power and fortitude. The Old Man carry far more power than his read identifies. I listen to this at work when I can and of course of have read the hard cover happily. I found myself hear though having to push past the drone of Sutherland to continue listening to this literary masterpiece. If not for that, itd be 5 stars.

Superb piece of literary work. A one-in-a-Million, have yet to encounter a close equal. What a timeless Classic masterpiece. -nate s LAFAYETTE-

About the author

Ernest Hemingway did more to change the style of English prose than any other writer of his time. Publication of The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms immediately established Hemingway as one of the greatest literary lights of the twentieth century. His classic novel The Old Man and the Sea won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. His life and accomplishments are explored in-depth in the PBS documentary film from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Hemingway. Known for his larger-than-life personality and his passions for bullfighting, fishing, and big-game hunting, he died in Ketchum, Idaho on July 2, 1961.

One of the most prolific and versatile of motion picture actors, Donald Sutherland has appeared in more than one hundred films, including Robert Altman's M.A.S.H., Robert Redford's Ordinary People, Alan Pakula's Klute, Fellini's Casanova, Pride & Prejudice, Cold Mountain, The Italian Job, and Six Degrees of Separation. Television credits include Commander in Chief, (Golden Globe Nom.) Human Trafficking, (Golden Globe Nom.) and Citizen X (Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award).