【正文】
and a giant marlin said to be the largest catch of his life. It opens by explaining that the fisherman, who is named Santiago, has gone 84 days without catching any fish at all (although a ment made at some point in the book reveals that he had previously gone 87 days without catching one). He is apparently so unlucky that his young apprentice, Manolin, has been forbidden by his parents to sail with the old man and been ordered to fish with more successful fishermen. Still dedicated to the old man, however, the boy visits Santiago39。s shack each night, hauling back his fishing gear, feeding him and discussing American baseball — most notably Santiago39。s great dignity, no one will be worthy of eating the marlin.On the third