The Old Man and the Sea From the Back Cover Santiago, wise old fisherman and hero of this masterpiece of story-telling, toils on the high seas for eighty-four days without a catch. Then he hooks a gigantic marlin and his epic confrontation begins…Full of vivid imagery and high drama, 'The Old Man and the Sea' was thought by the author – and many of his readers – to be his best work. Profoundly symbolic, this gripping story is one that stays in the memory long after its resolution. About the Author Charlton Heston, like the roles he has played on both stage and screen, has had an epic influence on American and world cinema. With his career spanning over half a century, he may be regarded as one of the few true Hollywood greats.