The Old Man and the Sea

This special edition of The Old Man and the Sea, developed as a hypothetical commission for Éditions B42, explores the role of the printed book in an age increasingly dominated by digital reading. In the 21st century, much of our engagement with text has shifted to screens, reducing print to a secondary medium for the distribution of information. Yet the physical book continues to offer a tactile and immersive experience that digital formats cannot fully replicate. The project uses design as a means to question contemporary reading habits and to reposition the book as an active, critical artefact rather than a neutral container for text.

Ernest Hemingway’s novella provides the conceptual framework for this investigation. The story’s narrative of endurance and persistence mirrors the position of the printed book within contemporary media culture. This parallel informed the material and typographic decisions of the publication. Through its wide format, tactile materials, and deliberate interruptions within the text, the design slows the reading process and resists passive consumption.

The project also engages with the complexity of Hemingway’s literary legacy. While widely celebrated, his work has been the subject of ongoing critical debate. As his final major publication, The Old Man and the Sea reflects a quieter, more reflective moment in his writing. Typographic commentary embedded within the body text introduces moments of interruption and contextualisation, encouraging readers to reconsider the narrative voice and its cultural framing.

Materiality plays a central role in the design concept. The wide landscape format recalls the gesture of holding a fish, referencing the central image of the story. An embroidered cover introduces a sense of labour and tension, echoing the endurance at the heart of the narrative. Fold-outs and typographic interventions create multiple layers of reading, transforming the book into a physical object to be navigated rather than passively consumed.

By emphasising scale, tactility, and interruption, the edition positions the printed book as a space for reflection and experimentation—arguing for the continued relevance of print as a medium for critical reading and contemporary book design.

The book was printed at Whites Law Bindery in Melbourne and bound using Japanese stab binding. Red string threaded through hand-punched cover holes highlights the tactile, handcrafted nature of the edition. Fold-outs and a dust cover extend the reading experience beyond the standard page format.

The Old Man and the Sea

Author: Ernest Hemingway
Designer: Lachlan Stutt
Release: October 2025
Format: 42 × 21 cm
Volume: 108 pages
Language: English

Read more about the special edition here.