Question

To whom is The Old Man and the Sea dedicated?

• A. Carlos Baker
• B. Maxwell Perkins
• C. Manolin
• D. Hemingway

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Maxwell Perkins

Dedication of The Old Man and the Sea

• Maxwell Perkins (1884-1947) was a renowned American book editor who worked for Charles Scribner's Sons. He is widely considered one of the most influential editors in American literary history.
• Hemingway dedicated his novella The Old Man and the Sea to Maxwell Perkins, recognizing Perkins' profound impact on his literary career and his role in nurturing many great American writers.
• Perkins was known for his exceptional editorial judgment, his ability to cultivate talent, and his close, supportive relationships with his authors, often guiding them through difficult creative processes.
• The Old Man and the Sea was published in 1952 and quickly became a critical and commercial success for Hemingway.
• The novella earned Ernest Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
• It was specifically cited by the Nobel Prize committee in 1954 when Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, highlighting its significance in his oeuvre.
• Besides Ernest Hemingway, Maxwell Perkins also famously edited works by other literary giants such as F. Scott Fitzgerald (e.g., The Great Gatsby), Thomas Wolfe (e.g., Look Homeward, Angel), and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (e.g., The Yearling).
• This dedication underscores the vital, often behind-the-scenes, role editors play in shaping classic literature and the careers of prominent authors.