The Old Man and the Sea / Ernest Hemingway

Short novel published in 1952, written while Hemingway lived in Cuba, and widely regarded as one of his finest works. The story follows Santiago, an elderly Cuban fisherman who has gone 84 days without catching a fish. Considered “salao” (the worst kind of unlucky), he is cared for by his devoted apprentice Manolin, though the boy is no longer allowed to fish with him. Determined to break his unlucky streak, Santiago sails far into the Gulf Stream and hooks a massive marlin. What follows is a multi‑day struggle between the old man and the fish—an epic contest of endurance, respect, and willpower. After finally killing the marlin, Santiago lashes it to his skiff, only to face relentless shark attacks on the journey home. By the time he returns to shore, only the skeleton remains.