Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is a novel by American author Herman Melville, first published in 1851. Though it was a commercial failure during Melville’s lifetime, it is now considered one of the greatest American novels ever written and a foundational work of world literature.

The novel follows Ishmael, a young sailor who joins the crew of the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by the obsessive Captain Ahab. Ahab is consumed by his desire for revenge against Moby Dick, the great white whale that bit off his leg on a previous voyage. As the Pequod sails through the world’s oceans in pursuit of the whale, Melville weaves together adventure, philosophy, and an encyclopedic exploration of whaling.

Celebrated for its rich symbolism, innovative narrative structure, and profound meditations on obsession, fate, and the natural world, Moby-Dick has influenced generations of writers and remains essential reading.