The Old Man and the Sea

Interesting Facts

• The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
• The main character, the old man Santiago, embodies the struggle of man against nature and his own weaknesses.
• The novel was one of the key factors in awarding the author the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954.
• The story is based on real events that happened to a Cuban fisherman, Gregorio Fuentes, who was a friend of the author.
• The book is written in a simple and concise language, which is a characteristic feature of the author's style.
• Symbolism in the novel plays an important role: the marlin symbolizes a higher goal, while the sharks represent the destructive forces man faces.