This is one of Hemingway's shortest books and also one of his best. His famously succinct, simple style is employed to great effect in this tale of man against prey as an allegory for the challenges of life. A Cuban fisherman past his prime goes out fishing on his own, after many days of no luck he catches what surely promises to be the catch of his life. What follows is gripping and moving in equal measure. The text is engaging on the level of how to catch a fish but this is a Nobel Prize for Literature winning novel. Once the fish is caught the real struggle begins. In a tale that will strike a chord with many people who have made it, only to lose it later due to forces beyond their control, what would have been the greatest achievement of this man's life may be taken away from him. Hemingway is often idolised for his unique style. However it comes across as rather dated here. The masculinity that underlines his prose is out of kilter with the modern world. In this respect it reads like a throwback to the colonial world, the white hunter seeking his prey. It is definitely possible to enjoy this book but some of his short stories, for example 'The Killers' have survived rather better, possibly as a result of there being used quite transparently as the source of the plot for many films. Overall I would recommend this book as a means to sample Hemingway's style of writing. If liked 'To Have, Or Have Not' would be a suitable follow up read.