Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by Herman Melville, centred on Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit of a white sperm whale.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by Herman Melville, centred on Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit of a white sperm whale. First issued in London as The Whale and later in New York under its full title, the book is now regarded as a major work of American literature. It is widely taught and read in Canadian literature and English courses as a foundational classic of nineteenth-century American fiction.

Publication history

Herman Melville started writing Moby-Dick in 1850 and finished the manuscript approximately 18 months later. The novel was initially released in London in October 1851 in three volumes under the title The Whale. A single-volume edition followed in New York City in November 1851, bearing the full title Moby-Dick; or, The Whale.

Plot

The novel is narrated by Ishmael and recounts the voyage of the whaling ship Pequod. Captain Ahab, having lost a leg to the white whale Moby Dick, becomes obsessed with revenge and pursues the whale across the oceans.

Themes and significance

The novel is known for its treatment of revenge, fate, religion, and humanity’s relationship with nature. It later gained a reputation as a central work of American literature.

Literary legacy

Moby-Dick was initially received with mixed reviews and modest sales, but its reputation rose substantially in the 20th century. It is now studied as a classic novel and one of Melville’s most important works, widely considered one of the greatest American novels.