The Old Man and the Sea Audiobook By Ernest Hemingway cover art

The Old Man and the Sea

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The Old Man and the Sea

By: Ernest Hemingway
Narrated by: Donald Sutherland
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2007 Audie Award Finalist for Solo Narration—Male

The last novel Ernest Hemingway saw published, The Old Man and the Sea has proved itself to be one of the most enduring works of American fiction. 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.

Using the simple, powerful language of a fable, Hemingway takes the timeless themes of courage in the face of defeat and personal triumph won from loss and transforms them into a magnificent twentieth-century classic. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novel confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature.

Accolades & Awards

Most Popular
Pulitzer Prize
1953
Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Pulitzer Prize Sea Adventures Classics Genre Fiction Adventure Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring

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Powerful Narrative • Profound Themes • Perfect Voice Match • Vivid Imagery • Timeless Classic • Layered Meaning

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If you care at all about the English language you must use 2 1/2 hours of your time on the planet listening to this work. It is possibly the simplest scenario imaginable for a novel but is completed with style and economy which is what made Hemingway unique. The icing on the cake is that Sutherland's narration is nearly as exceptional as the book itself. Buy it!

Buy it!

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A must buy! Narrated by Donald Sutherland, need I say more.

The Old Man & the Sea

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You need not be nearly as persistent as "the old man" to listen to this. The narration is about perfect, and as long as you can handle an unassuming, tender story about fishing for days on end you shouldn't have any trouble with this one.

Donald Sutherland was superb!

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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.

Brilliant, relevant and moving.

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This is a classic must read story that is filled with deep life lessons. Unfortunately, the narrator was lacking in expression and the almost monotone speech made a lovely story boring and difficult to listen to as it induced sleep.

Story vs narrator

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