Moby Dick (Illustrated)

Moby Dick (Illustrated)

by Herman Melville
Moby Dick (Illustrated)

Moby Dick (Illustrated)

by Herman Melville

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Overview

Contains 10 illustrations.

Dive into the tempestuous world of Moby Dick, a literary masterpiece that has captivated readers for generations. Set against the vast and unpredictable backdrop of the open sea, Herman Melville's epic novel takes us on a journey of obsession, revenge, and the enigmatic allure of the unknown.

At its heart is Captain Ahab, a charismatic yet tortured soul who commands the whaling ship Pequod. Driven by an all-consuming desire for vengeance, Ahab relentlessly pursues the white whale known as Moby Dick, a leviathan that had once taken his leg and, in his mind, embodies the embodiment of all that defies human mastery.

But Moby Dick is more than a tale of a man's quest for retribution. It's a rich tapestry woven with a diverse crew of sailors, each with their own stories, quirks, and beliefs. Ishmael, the wide-eyed narrator, joins this eclectic cast, providing readers with an insightful and often philosophical perspective on life aboard the ship and the depths of the human psyche.

Melville's prose is a symphony of language, interweaving vivid descriptions of seafaring life, the intricacies of whaling, and timeless philosophical musings on themes such as fate, nature, and the uncharted waters of the human spirit. As the Pequod sails ever closer to its elusive quarry, readers are invited to grapple with profound questions about humanity's place in the natural world and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

Moby Dick stands as a monumental work of American literature, an exploration of the human condition set against the backdrop of the untamed ocean. With its blend of adventure, symbolism, and deep introspection, this novel continues to resonate with modern readers, inviting them to confront the mysteries of existence and the boundless depths of the human soul.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781088246160
Publisher: Treasureword
Publication date: 08/17/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 591
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Herman Melville was born in August 1, 1819, in New York City, the son of a merchant. Only twelve when his father died bankrupt, young Herman tried work as a bank clerk, as a cabin-boy on a trip to Liverpool, and as an elementary schoolteacher, before shipping in January 1841 on the whaler Acushnet, bound for the Pacific. Deserting ship the following year in the Marquesas, he made his way to Tahiti and Honolulu, returning as ordinary seaman on the frigate United States to Boston, where he was discharged in October 1844. Books based on these adventures won him immediate success. By 1850 he was married, had acquired a farm near Pittsfield, Massachussetts (where he was the impetuous friend and neighbor of Nathaniel Hawthorne), and was hard at work on his masterpiece Moby-Dick.

Literary success soon faded; his complexity increasingly alienated readers. After a visit to the Holy Land in January 1857, he turned from writing prose fiction to poetry. In 1863, during the Civil War, he moved back to New York City, where from 1866-1885 he was a deputy inspector in the Custom House, and where, in 1891, he died. A draft of a final prose work, Billy Budd, Sailor, was left unfinished and uncollated, packed tidily away by his widow, where it remained until its rediscovery and publication in 1924.

Date of Birth:

August 1, 1819

Date of Death:

September 28, 1891

Place of Birth:

New York, New York

Place of Death:

New York, New York

Education:

Attended the Albany Academy in Albany, New York, until age 15
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