Herman Melville's Moby-Dick: A Sourcebook

by Michael J. Davey (Editor)

No book is more central to the study of nineteenth-century American literature than Herman Melville's Moby-Dick; or The Whale. First published it 1851, it still speaks powerfully to readers today. Combining reprinted documents with clear introductions for student readers, this volume examines the contexts of and critical responses to Melville's work. It draws together:
*an introduction to the contexts in which Melville was writing and relevant contextual documents, including letters
*chronology of key facts and dates
*critical history and extracts from early reviews and modern criticism
*fully annotated key passages from the novel
*a list of biblical allusions
*an annotated guide to further reading.
Extensive cross-references link contextual information, critical materials and passages from the novel providing a wide-ranging view of the work and ensuring a successful and enjoyable encounter with the world of Moby-Dick.

Genres: Literary Criticism

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2003

Reviews

[Anna Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melville really had me until he started trashing Linnaeus for being one of those naive academic types who clearly has no true understanding of nature, because of course anyone who truly knows the sea understands that whales are fish and not mammals. Maybe I could forgive the mistaken perspective, but not the fifty pages of unfounded whale classification that follows.
On the flip side, I really loved the line "Hell is a thought first borne on an undigested apple dumpling," and pretty much everything that comes before we meet Ahab...he turns out to be a real downer.

[Frederik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great literary moments here and there, but then it is disturbed by some very boring descriptions of whalehunting techniques... slighty dissappointed, I must say. But at the end you finally get some of the action that you have waited so long for. A tough book to read, but worthwhile if you are into complicated literary analysis - I wasn`t!

[Mbreaden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A recommendation of Craig Enberg, I think...

Opened it and read the first page, came across the line about November gloom and the need to travel and seemed appropriate to my current state of mind. His writing style seems pretty engaging, slightly ecstatic, but I don't mind. I'm worried about the dull-drums of the novel, though; lengthy descriptions of whaling, sailing, and whatnot. Not sure whether that stuff will hold my attention, but maybe I'll surprise myself, or Melville will surprise me.

I have been really into these heroic-type novels lately.

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Dec. 29

Honestly man, just stick with the character development and lay off the philo-theo musings. Although the bit where he contrasted the turmoil under the surface of the ocean with green and peaceful land was interesting and a good setup for further drama.

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I finished this a week ago and it was sort of worth it for the Shakespearean moments and the chilling ending.

Eh, who am I kidding? The movie is totally sufficient.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you ever wanted to learn about whaling

[Darian · Rating 1 out of 5]

When reading the full version I got the destinct impression that Melville must have been a writer paid by the word. This is espeacially true when you get to the chapter on Cetology...eerrggg...

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't believe anyone ever argued the whale was the protagonist. He didn't show up until the very end of the book!

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

How could I retain interest in a book that spends 3 pages describing the whales' sense of smell.