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Moby Dick

4.3
12 ratings

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ISBN
9781519202932

Moby Dick is a american sea stories, mentally ill book by Herman Melville.

About this book

Moby-Dick ,or The Whale is an 1851 epic novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book centers on the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the maniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg on the ship's previous voyage. A contribution to the literature of the American Renaissance, Moby-Dick was published to mixed reviews, was a commercial failure, and was out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891. Its reputation as a Great American Novel was established only in the 20th century, after the 1919 centennial of its author's birth. William Faulkner said he wished he had written the book himself, and D. H. Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world" and "the greatest book of the sea ever written". Its opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael", is among world literature's most famous.

Source: Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

About the Author

Herman Melville is the author of Moby Dick. Browse their full catalog on Booklogr.

Editions & Formats

What Readers Are Saying

“The whaling chapters are surprisingly fascinating. The philosophical digressions are where the real treasure lies.”

litcritic

“Took me three attempts to finish it. On the third try, everything clicked and I understood the hype.”

plottwist
4.5

“I respect it more than I enjoy it. The ambition is staggering but the execution tests your endurance.”

storychaser

Reviews (12)

L
Apr 22, 2026

The whaling chapters are surprisingly fascinating. The philosophical digressions are where the real treasure lies.

P
Apr 22, 2026

Took me three attempts to finish it. On the third try, everything clicked and I understood the hype.

S
Apr 19, 2026

I respect it more than I enjoy it. The ambition is staggering but the execution tests your endurance.

M
Apr 18, 2026

Queequeg and Ishmael's friendship is the heart of the novel. Their bond is one of literature's most touching.

C
Apr 17, 2026

Every chapter on whale classification is actually about human classification. Melville was playing 4D chess.

B
Apr 16, 2026

Call me Ishmael. Three words and you're hooked. Melville wrote the great American novel and nobody noticed for decades.

E
Apr 14, 2026

A book that rewards patience. The payoff in the final chapters is worth every whale anatomy lesson.

R
Apr 13, 2026

Ahab's obsession is compelling but the cetology chapters nearly sank the book for me. Pun intended.

C
Apr 12, 2026

The Pequod is a microcosm of America. Melville saw the cracks in the nation before the Civil War.

Q
Apr 11, 2026

I went in skeptical of the hype around Moby Dick and came out a complete convert. Herman Melville pulls off something rare.

B
Apr 11, 2026

Gave it five stars. Moby Dick is the kind of book I'll keep coming back to and noticing new things in.

P
Apr 11, 2026

This book contains everything - adventure, philosophy, humor, horror, and the deepest meditation on obsession ever written.

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Moby Dick?+

Moby Dick is a American Sea stories, Mentally ill, Whaling, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Whales book.

What is Moby Dick about?+

Moby-Dick ,or The Whale is an 1851 epic novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book centers on the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the maniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg on the ship's prev...

Who wrote Moby Dick?+

Moby Dick was written by Herman Melville.

What is the rating of Moby Dick?+

Moby Dick has an average rating of 4.3/5 based on 12 ratings on Booklogr.