Moby Dick: Or, the Whale (Penguin Classics S.)

Phillips, Edward; Melville, Herman; Hootkins, William

3.54

560,143 ratings by Goodreads

9780140861723: Moby Dick: Or, the Whale (Penguin Classics S.)

ISBN 10: 0140861726 ISBN 13: 9780140861723

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 1996

This is the tale of Captain Ahab's search for Moby Dick, the great white whale responsible for the loss of one of his legs. Among his crew is Ishmael who recounts the story of the doomed ship and tells of his gruelling rites of passage and the salvation he receives.

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Review:

Arguably Herman Melville's greatest work, and hailed as a classic American novel, Moby Dick tells the tale of one man's fatal obsession and his willingness to sacrifice his life and that of his crew to achieve his goal. The story follows the fortunes of Captain Ahab and the culturally and spiritually diverse crew of the Pequod, a 19th century whaling ship. The Pequod is on its last voyage out of New Bedford, Mass, in pursuit of Moby Dick, the great white whale which has been Ahab's obsessional quarry and bitter adversary for many years. Narrated by sole survivor Ishmael, the tale forms a complex fictional fusion, combining a wealth of literary symbolism, hidden meaning and philosophical debate with adventure narrative and a detailed historical account of the 19th century whaling trade. --Emily Lowson

Review:

'In his great whaling epic Melville roamed both the seas, and the secret places of men's minds. In the alternate playfulness and ferocity of the great white whale he found the perfect metaphor within which to develope his views on life, death and God.' The Sunday Times

'An attractive edition to a field rather overcrowded with inexpensive editions. However, the Hawthorne material gives this one an edge.' Andrew Lyman, Leicester University. ' Much better annotations than any other available edition.' H. Merritt, CCAT Cambridge.

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