Moby-Dick or The Whale

Herman Melville

Casa editrice: Memorable Classics eBooks

Sinossi

Moby-Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that on the ship's previous voyage bit off Ahab's leg at the knee.

A contribution to the literature of the American Renaissance, Moby-Dick was published to mixed reviews, was a commercial failure, and was out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891. Its reputation as a "Great American Novel" was established only in the 20th century, after the 1919 centennial of its author's birth. William Faulkner said he wished he had written the book himself, and D. H. Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world" and "the greatest book of the sea ever written". Its opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael", is among world literature's most famous.

Melville began writing Moby-Dick in February 1850 and finished 18 months later, a year after he had anticipated. Melville drew on his experience as a common sailor from 1841 to 1844, including several years on whalers, and on wide reading in whaling literature. The white whale is modeled on a notoriously hard-to-catch albino whale Mocha Dick, and the book's ending is based on the sinking of the whaleship Essex in 1820.

The detailed and realistic descriptions of whale hunting and of extracting whale oil, as well as life aboard ship among a culturally diverse crew, are mixed with exploration of class and social status, good and evil, and the existence of God. The book's literary influences include Shakespeare and the Bible. In addition to narrative prose, Melville uses styles and literary devices ranging from songs, poetry, and catalogs to Shakespearean stage directions, soliloquies, and asides.

In August 1850, with the manuscript perhaps half finished, he met Nathaniel Hawthorne and was deeply impressed by his Mosses from an Old Manse, which he compared to Shakespeare in its cosmic ambitions. This encounter may have inspired him to revise and deepen Moby-Dick, which is dedicated to Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius".

Disponibile da: 02/06/2022.

Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

The Queen The Warlord and the...

Steven A. Preston

A queen with a desire and a quench for life. A kingdom each with citizens that have their own agenda. 
A counselor and consort who is loyal to the point of treason. 
A warlord determined to control the uncontrollable who has a life-long secret that even He is unaware of. 
And a mystical food that has the ability to turn back the ravages of time and restore the youth of whoever knows the secret of using it. 
Enjoy a hundred years of intrigue within this seventeen-minute micro novel. 
Let it take you back to a simpler time before special effects and when imagination was king.

Mostra libro

Paying the Price 1 - Mothers and...

Paul Amann

Master Matchek is a Czechoslovakian maths teacher in his mid-fifties who has two great passions. He loves maths and he loves spanking women's bottoms, both young and old. He has a reputation for getting his girls very high marks in their final exams but his reputation for spanking girls who do not do their homework or wear the wrong clothes for his extra lessons is also well known. In book 1, Layla Turnbull is spanked so that the tutor will let her daughter Chloe attend the extra maths lessons. After that Chloe and her mother are spanked regularly when Chloe makes mistakes. Chloe’s friend Mary is also spanked regularly and their mothers admit that they enjoy the spankings. 
Another great story 
Another great story well written. I really enjoyed reading this book and can not wait for the sequel. Keep up the great writing

Mostra libro

Red Star Over Hebrides

Donald S Murray

Even as he grew up on the edge of Lewis, the vastness of Russia never felt too distant for Donald S Murray. Its great literary traditions were often discussed in his home village, while the political unrest and religious fervour that marked its past and present were occassionally reflected in his life on the island. Inspired by the Russian canon, the songs, verse and stories contained within these pages draw upon the experiences of his youth, shifting continually between myth and history, the absurd and moving, the satirical and everyday. Its extraordinary and diverse narratives underline the truth of its opening line: 'I can see these islands mirror Russia.'

Mostra libro

Gabriel-Ernest - From their pens...

Saki Saki

Hector Hugh Munro, more familiarly known by his pen-name ‘Saki’ was born in what was then Akyab in British Burma on 18th December 1870. His father was an Inspector General for the Indian Imperial Police, and his mother the daughter of a Rear Admiral.
When he was 2 his mother died and he and his siblings were sent back to England to be raised by their grandmother and paternal maiden aunts in a strict, puritanical household near Barnstaple, Devon. Educated by governesses Saki used many of these women as character models for his later writing.
At 17 his father retried and returned to England and then embarked on a series of European travels with Saki and his siblings.
After a short stint working in Burma with the Indian Imperial Police Saki decided to move to London to make a living as a writer. Initially he wrote as a journalist for a number of newspapers and magazines before attempting an historical study, ‘The Rise of the Russian Empire’, whose real value lay in directing him to writing short stories instead, the first of which, ‘Dogged’, he published in 1899.
From here it was a short stab of the pen to writing political satire before in 1902 he became the foreign correspondent for The Morning Post, first in the Balkans, then Russia, Paris and back to London in 1908, where 'the agreeable life of a man of letters with a brilliant reputation awaited him.'
Collections of his short stories full of witty, mischievous and often macabre stories that satirized Edwardian society and two novels now appeared in the years up to the Great War. At its’ outbreak he was 43 but managed to join as an ordinary trooper. More than once he returned to the battlefield when officially too sick or injured.
On 14th November 1916 Hector Hugh Munro was sheltering in crater during the Battle of the Ancre, when he was shot and killed by a German sniper. According to several sources, his last words were "Put that bloody cigarette out!"

Mostra libro

The Canterville Ghost

Oscar Wilde

Embark on a delightful journey into the world of whimsical humor and supernatural intrigue with "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde, now available as a charming audiobook. In this timeless tale, listeners will be transported to the grand Canterville Chase, where the illustrious Otis family encounters a ghostly resident with a penchant for mischief. 
As the story unfolds, listeners will follow the hilarious antics of the ghost as he attempts to frighten the unflappable Americans, only to find himself outwitted at every turn. With its blend of wit, satire, and gentle irony, "The Canterville Ghost" is a delightful romp that delights audiences of all ages. 
Perfect for fans of classic literature and witty humor, this audiobook delivers a delightful performance that will leave listeners laughing out loud. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Oscar Wilde's work or new to his writing, "The Canterville Ghost" promises to entertain and enchant. 
So, if you're ready to experience a tale of laughter, love, and ghostly hijinks, start listening to "The Canterville Ghost" today and immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Oscar Wilde's storytelling. Start Listening to "The Canterville Ghost" today!

Mostra libro

The Golden Key & The Giant's Heart

George MacDonald

The Golden Key is a beautiful allegory of life, death, and the afterlife.  This story follows a young boy and girl as they embark on strange adventures that help them to better understand the circumstances of their own lives as well as those surrounding life itself.  Their wanderings and discoveries bring them hope for life after death.In The Giant’s Heart two youngsters must learn to look for creative solutions as they struggle against a giant who guards his heart so carefully that he has lost sight of what is good and moral and has become quite a formidable and evil foe.This series, published by ONE audiobooks, seeks to produce Classic Christian titles read by well known and loved audiobook narrators.  ONE takes great care to cast these titles with readers who will provide an unmatched listening experience for these important works.Simon Bubb brings his passion to every performance and is considered to be one of the top audiobook narrators in the industry.

Mostra libro