Moby Dick by Herman Melville (1851)

Name: Moby Dick
Author: Herman Melville

Moby Dick is a classic novel by Herman Melville, first published in 1851. It tells the story of Ishmael, a sailor who signs up for a whaling voyage on the Pequod, captained by the mysterious and vengeful Ahab. The voyage is a quest for revenge against the white whale Moby Dick, which had previously taken Ahab's leg. Along the way, Ishmael and the crew encounter a variety of characters, including the harpooner Queequeg, the cabin boy Pip, and the mysterious prophet Elijah. The novel is a complex exploration of themes such as obsession, revenge, and the power of nature. It is also a meditation on the human condition, as Ishmael struggles to make sense of the world around him. In the end, Moby Dick is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its powerful themes and unforgettable characters.

By Herman Melville · First published 1851 · Genre: Adventure, Romance, Fantasy · 60 chapters · 208,722 words

First lines

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.

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Moby Dick is listed on Textopian as a novel by Herman Melville, dated 1851 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Herman Melville
Date: 1851 CE
Language: English
Genres: Adventure, Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Philosophical Fiction
Length: 208,722 words
Structure: 136 chapters, 2,322 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Adventure — The novel follows the adventures of the protagonist, Captain Ahab, as he embarks on a quest to find and kill the white whale Moby Dick.
Romance — The novel contains a romantic subplot between the characters of Ishmael and Queequeg.
Fantasy — The novel contains elements of fantasy, such as the mythical white whale Moby Dick and the supernatural powers of the sea.
Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the mid-19th century and contains accurate descriptions of whaling practices and life at sea during that time period.