Publisher Description
Moby Dick (1851) is Herman Melville’s monumental novel of obsession, nature, and the human condition. Narrated by Ishmael, a sailor aboard the whaling ship Pequod, the story follows Captain Ahab’s relentless quest to hunt the eponymous white whale that maimed him. Blending action with philosophical digressions, Melville examines themes of revenge, fate, and the limits of knowledge. Ahab’s monomaniacal pursuit becomes a symbol of humanity’s struggle against the unknowable and the sublime. The novel is notable for its encyclopedic scope—containing reflections on cetology, religion, and the sea—alongside vivid character portraits and poetic prose. Initially met with mixed reviews, Moby Dick is now considered one of the greatest American novels, celebrated for its depth, complexity, and literary innovation. Melville’s work defies categorization, combining adventure with existential inquiry.
