Other editions of book Moby Dick

First published in 1851, Moby Dick is the story told by the sailor Ishmael of Captain Ahab aboard its ship Pequod on his search out of revenge for the whale Moby Dick who had destroyed his boat and bit off his leg. This Romantic novel revolves around the obsession of Ahab and served as the inspiration for countless works by other writers, down to The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway.

Herman Melville was a well-known American novelist in his day, with best-sellers like Typee, but by the time he died in 1891, he had fallen into obscurity. Although his first few books were popular, they too began to collect dust and be forgotten in the country. Then came the Melville Revival in the early 20th century, which breathed life into his legacy and brought his work back to the forefront. Of course, the book that benefited the most from that revival is now considered one of the greatest American novels ever written: Moby Dick. Moby Dick is still read by nearly every American in school, and the novel, which seems to be about Captain Ahab hunting a whale named Moby Dick, with a sailor named Ishmael narrating the story, is actually a profound work that analyzes themes like good and evil, society and religion. In fact, the novel is full of metaphors and allegories about life itself, wrapped up in a famous sea tale. Melville's novel was based off actual historical events, including the hunting of a giant albino sperm whale named Mocha Dick in the early 19th century.