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Moby-Dick

or, The Whale
By Herman Melville
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3.56 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is a gripping tale of Captain Ahab's relentless quest to hunt the elusive white whale, Moby Dick, who had previously crippled him. Told through the eyes of Ishmael, a sailor on Ahab's whaling ship, the novel explores themes of obsession, revenge, and the confrontation between man and nature on the high seas. A rich tapestry of adventure and philosophical musings, this story delves deep into the human spirit's complexities.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy epic sea adventures filled with rich symbolism and complex themes of obsession and revenge. The multi-layered narrative offers a deep exploration of human nature through a gripping hunt for a formidable white whale. With its vivid descriptions and diverse characters, it's a classic tale that examines both the physical and psychological elements of the pursuit of elusive goals.

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'Call me Ishmael.' So begins the author's masterpiece, one of the greatest works of imagination in literary history. As Ishmael is drawn into Captain Ahab's obsessive quest to slay the white whale Moby-Dick, he finds himself engaged in a metaphysical struggle between good and evil.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Captain Ahab is an eerily compelling madman who focuses his distilled hatred and suffering (and that of generations before him) into the pursuit of a creature as vast, dangerous, and unknowable as the sea itself.

More than just a novel of adventure, this is a haunting social commentary populated with some of the most enduring characters in literature.

Written with wonderfully redemptive humour, Moby-Dick is a profound and timeless inquiry into character, faith, and the nature of perception.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville is often celebrated for its intricate narrative and profound themes, exploring obsession and humanity's relationship with nature. Reviews consistently praise its rich symbolism and complex characters. The Penguin Drop Caps edition garners additional appreciation for its elegant, minimalist typographic design, which elevates the book as a physical object, blending literary value with aesthetic appeal.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780142437247

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 February 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Notes by Tom Quirk
  • Introduction by Andrew Delbanco
  • Introduction by Andrew Delbanco

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 131.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 720

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Herman Melville Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics

About the Author

Herman Melville, though not appreciated in his own time, is now regarded as one of America's greatest novelists. Much of the material for his novels was drawn from his own experience as a seaman. He wrote his masterpiece Moby Dick in 1851and died in1891. Andrew Delbanco is Professor of English & Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Tom Quirk is Professor of English at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

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