The narrative revolves around Ishmael's voyage on the whaleship Pequod, which is captained by Ahab. Ahab seeks revenge against a white sperm whale that had destroyed his ship and leg in a previous encounter. The crew of the Pequod becomes entangled in Ahab's obsessive quest for vengeance, leading to catastrophic consequences.
By Herman Melville · First published 1856 · Genre: Poetry, Sea Literature, Romanticism