The Old Man and the Sea

Hemingway • Season 1 • Episode 4

About this episode

In Venice Hemingway meets Adriana, who becomes the heroine of his next novel, "Across the River and into the Trees". He is greatly attracted to the young woman, but he feels that his time is over. In spite of the humiliation Mary suffers, she stays with him. His novel is torn apart by the critics. With "The Old Man and the Sea" Hemingway regains his self-confidence. Hemingway returns to Africa to reassume the self-imposed image of the Great White Hunter. During a photo-safari by plane he and Mary experience two consecutive plane crashes. Hemingway's health deteriorates due to severe brain damage. Hemingway becomes depressed; his memory no longer serves him. He can no longer write. Hemingway becomes suicidal. He goes into therapy at the Mayo Clinic but is released with doctor's instructions to abstain from all those things which had been essential to him.