Books

London: Jonathan Cape1, 1952. First English Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine in Very Good dust jacket. 19.5 x 13 cm. Crown octavo 127pp. Bound into blue cloth with design stamped in red and in dust jacket designed by Hans Tisdall. First UK edition with First Published 1952 on copyright page. This is a review copy with slip included and with the date of 8th September 2+63. The jacket differs from the US edition and features illustrations of fish and is printed in white, blue, red, yellow, green and orange. All four flaps of the jacket are clipped but the original price of 7s. 6d. net is still present on the front flap. Rubbing and some light chipping to the spine of the jacket at the folds. Small dark spot to the front cover of the cloth. Nice, bright copy. Uncommon thus. Winner of the 1953 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Nobel Prize in literature in 1954. Reference: Hanneman A45A.

"The Old Man and the Sea" is a novella written by Ernest Hemingway and published in 1952. Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba, the story follows Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman, as he engages in an epic struggle against a massive marlin, a battle that becomes a profound test of his strength, endurance, and determination. The novella begins with Santiago, who has not caught a fish in 84 days, feeling unlucky and discouraged. Despite the skepticism of others, Santiago remains determined to prove himself and set out to sea alone in his small skiff, the "Santíago." He sets his lines far out into the Gulf Stream and patiently waits for a catch. After a long wait, Santiago finally feels a tug on one of his lines and realizes he has hooked a massive marlin. The ensuing battle between man and fish is grueling and intense, with Santiago struggling against the marlin's immense strength and refusing to give up despite exhaustion and physical pain. As the struggle continues, Santiago's thoughts turn to the nature of life, fate, and the human condition. He reflects on his own mortality and the passage of time, finding solace in memories of his youth and past accomplishments. Throughout the ordeal, Santiago demonstrates courage, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world. Eventually, after a relentless struggle lasting several days, Santiago manages to harpoon the marlin and lash it alongside his skiff. However, Santiago's triumph is short-lived, as sharks are drawn to the marlin's blood and begin to attack the carcass, destroying Santiago's prize catch. Despite the loss of the marlin, Santiago returns to shore with his head held high, earning the respect and admiration of his fellow fishermen. Although physically defeated, Santiago emerges spiritually triumphant, having proved his worth as a fisherman and reaffirmed his dignity in the face of adversity. "The Old Man and the Sea" is a timeless tale of courage, resilience, and the enduring human spirit. Hemingway's spare and evocative prose captures the beauty and brutality of the natural world, while Santiago's struggle against the marlin serves as a powerful metaphor for the universal human experience of striving against the odds.

Identifying a first edition of 'The Old Man and the Sea' can typically be determined by the publisher's name, Charles Scribner's Sons, with an 'A' present on the copyright page, and no subsequent print dates listed. The jacket is a brown and blue design. Octavo. Light blue calico-grain cloth, spine lettered in silver. The rear photograph of the author is tinted in either blue or brown. There are unresolved disputes between experts on which tint came first, though brown has preference in the book collecting community.