The Canon Library
Cover of The Old Man and the Sea

Modern · Novella

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway. An aging fisherman battles a giant marlin and the sea in a spare parable of pride, skill, loss, and perseverance.

Date
1952
Origin
United States / Cuba
Era
Modern
Genre
Novella
Difficulty
Accessible
Length
Short
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

Why it matters

An aging fisherman battles a giant marlin and the sea in a spare parable of pride, skill, loss, and perseverance.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of modern broader canon. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

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