4.

Explanation of your novel’s biographical and historical context based on your research
Born in 1899 his childhood was filled with exploration fulfilling the curiosities of the moment. With his
ability to capture every detail and explain every character he was working as a reporter for The Toronto
Star. With his confidence and ability to capture everything happening in Europe at that time, he was an
incredible journalist. He was magnetic and with his charm he became really popular in Paris where he
was sent to interview Mussolini in 1921. His journalistic approach to subjects, did influence his style and
provided him with a lot of the material for his writing. On one of his editorial meetings, he was quoted
saying: ‘There is nothing in my work that somebody without a high school education can’t relate to.’ He
was able to write for both, high and low classes of audience. While in Paris his mentor Gertrude Stein,
inspired him to focus on his autobiographical writing. aside from journalism. His works through the years
were equally as influential to his generation. As the head of the Paris Review said “Many of the
manuscripts which crossed my desk read like Hemingway.” He was best known for his adventurous spirit
and love of travel, as a result he was part of many expeditions around the world, all his short stories
were based on the inspirations he gathered on his trips.

The Old Man and The Sea was his last novel; written in Cuba,
when he was living there, he based the book on his close
friend and expedition partner Gregory Fuentes as they sailed
together often.
The book was written from December 1949 to February 1951. As a precursor to the Cuban coup d'état
the book was still a reflection of the peaceful times of the Republic of Cuba. The fishermen in the early
1950s used small boats to catch more expensive fish, in direct comparison to today where they use
larger boats to catch lower-valued fish. Hemingway’s reference to Santiago’s goal, “to catch a big one”
was based on the social recognition of the value of big fish in comparison to the lesser value of smaller
fish. The novel is an example of the times which were the daily life of the citizens of Cuba in the early
1950s. throughout the 1950s Cuba was the equivalent to what Las Vegas is today. The fishing industry
was popular, it went hand in hand with the other one which was tourism.