Best Selling Books by Herman Melville

Bring the Classics To Life. These novels have been adapted into 10 short chapters that will excite the reluctant reader as well as the enthusiastic one. Key words are defined and used in context. Multiple-choice questions require the student to recall specific details, sequence the events, draw inferences from story context, develop another name for the chapter, and choose the main idea. Let the Classics introduce Kipling, Stevenson, and H.G. Wells. Your students will embrace the notion of Crusoe''s lonely reflections, the psychological reactions of a Civil War soldier at Chancellorsville, and the tragedy of the Jacobite Cause in 18th Century Scotland. In our society, knowledge of these Classics is a cultural necessity. Improves fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Herman Melville''s thrilling nautical adventure—a timeless allegory and an epic saga of heroic determination and conflict. At the heart of Moby-Dick is the powerful, unknowable sea—and Captain Ahab, a brooding, one-legged fanatic who has sworn vengeance on the mammoth white whale that crippled him. Narrated by Ishmael, a wayfarer who joins the crew of Ahab’s whaling ship, this is the story of that hair-raising voyage, and of the men who embraced hardship and nameless horrors as they dared to challenge God’s most dreaded creation and death itself for a chance at immortality. A novel that delves with astonishing vigor into the complex souls of men, Moby-Dick is an impassioned drama of the ultimate human struggle that the Atlantic Monthly called “the greatest of American novels.” With an Introduction by Elizabeth Renker and an Afterword by Christopher Buckley

This illustrated edition of "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" includes: Illustrations of objects and places mentioned in the novel. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale 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 on Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that on the ship''s previous voyage bit off Ahab''s leg at the knee.

Bartleby by Herman Melville is a poignant exploration of alienation and the human condition, set against the backdrop of bustling Wall Street in 19th-century New York. The enigmatic Bartleby, a copyist hired by the story''s narrator, initially proves a diligent worker. However, as the demands of the job weigh heavy on him, Bartleby utters his now-famous refrain: "I would prefer not to." This seemingly innocuous statement transforms into a profound act of passive resistance, marking the beginning of Bartleby''s descent into a realm of existential isolation. Melville''s narrative delves into the complexities of individual autonomy and societal expectations, unraveling a tale that resonates with themes of free will and the consequences of rebelling against the machine of conformity. HERMAN MELVILLE [1819-1891] was an American poet and novelist. Melville was not popular during his own lifetime and largely forgotten upon his death, however, during the 20th century his work was rediscovered and his novel Moby-Dick [1851] is today considered one of the great American novels.

This carefully crafted ebook: "MOBY DICK (Modern Classics Series)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville: first published in 1851, considered to be one of the Great American Novels and a treasure of world literature, one of the great epics in all of literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab''s boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge...

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale 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 on 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 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

Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street, also called a masterpiece of short fiction, is a short story by the American writer Herman Melville. It tells about a Wall Street lawyer who hires a new clerk who, after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copies or do any other task required of him, refusing with the words "I would prefer not to."

At the period just preceding the advent of Bartleby, I had two persons as copyists in my employment, and a promising lad as an office-boy. First, Turkey; second, Nippers; third, Ginger Nut. These may seem names, the like of which are not usually found in the Directory. In truth they were nicknames, mutually conferred upon each other by my three clerks, and were deemed expressive of their respective persons or characters.

Drawn from Melville''s own adolescent experience aboard a merchant ship, Redburn tells the story of Wellingborough Redburn, whose innocence is transformed into disenchantment at the hands of bullying and brutal shipmates and the squalid conditions in Liverpool. Taken from the authoritative first American edition, this Modern Library Paperback Classic includes newly commissioned notes. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

One of the greatest books ever written. A splendid masterpiece. Moby Dick is generally regarded as Melville''s magnum opus and one of the greatest American novels. Moby Dick famously begins with the narratorial invocation "Call me Ishmael." The narrator, like his biblical counterpart, is an outcast. Ishmael, who turns to the sea for meaning, relays to the audience the final voyage of the Pequod, a whaling vessel. Amid a story of tribulation, beauty, and madness, the reader is introduced to a number of characters, many of whom have names with religious resonance. The ship''s captain is Ahab, who Ishmael and his friend Queequeg soon learn is losing his mind. Starbuck, Ahab''s first-mate, recognizes this problem too, and is the only one throughout the novel to voice his disapproval of Ahab''s increasingly obsessive behavior. This nature of Ahab''s obsession is first revealed to Ishmael and Queequeg after the Pequod''s owners, Peleg and Bildad, explain to them that Ahab is still recovering from an encounter with a large whale that resulted in the loss of his leg. That whale''s name is Moby Dick. The Pequod sets sail, and the crew is soon informed that this journey will be unlike their other whaling missions: this time, despite the reluctance of Starbuck, Ahab intends to hunt and kill the beastly Moby Dick no matter the cost.

A masterpiece of storytelling and symbolic realism, this thrilling adventure and epic saga pits Ahab, a brooding sea captain, against the great white whale that crippled him. More than just the tale of a hair-raising voyage, Melville''s riveting story of Moby-Dick passionately probes man''s soul. A literary classic first published in 1851, Moby-Dick represents the ultimate human struggle.

Ignoring prophecies of doom, the seafarer Ishmael joins the crew of a whaling expedition that is an obsession for the ship’s captain, Ahab. Once maimed by the White Whale, Moby Dick, Ahab has set out on a voyage of revenge. With godlike ferocity, he surges into dangerous waters-immune to the madness of his vision, refusing to be bested by the forces of nature.u003cbru003eAn exhilarating whaling yarn, an apocalyptic theodicy, a tragic confessional, and a profound allegory, Moby Dick encompasses all that it means to be human-from the physical and metaphysical to the spiritual and emotional. Full of strange wisdom and wild digressive energy, it’s a singular literary performance universally regarded as one of the great American novels.

This premium quality edition contains the complete and unabridged original classic version of "Moby Dick," printed on heavyweight, bright white paper in a large 7.44"x9.69" format, with a laminated cover featuring an original design. Also included is a detailed introductory essay discussing the life and work of Herman Melville and the history and significance of "Moby Dick," providing the modern reader with useful background information to enhance the enjoyment of this classic. Herman Melville is known today primarily for his iconic whaling novel, "Moby Dick" (1851), the story of the struggle between Captain Ahab and "the great white whale," which appears on many lists of "greatest books ever written" and is considered an essential part of the Western Canon. Ironically, when the novel was published it was a monumental flop and signaled the end of Melvilles''s career as a novelist. One theory is that the omission of the epilogue from the first printing left the book open to ridicule as a first-person narrative in which the narrator did not survive to tell the tale. He published several more novels, all without success, and in 1866 became a New York customs inspector, all but forgotten for the next fifty years. It was not until the rise of the modernist movement that "Moby Dick" was recognized as a great literary work. What once were regarded as serious flaws came to be viewed as literary innovations, and the novel went from being criticized as undisciplined and poorly crafted to being hailed as "ahead of its time" and "visionary." For the modern reader, the complex analytical theories behind "Moby Dick" may get in the way of enjoying the novel for its own sake. Taking "Moby Dick" at face value, it is an interesting tale, rich with diverse characters and evocative themes like friendship, class and social status, good and evil, isolation and community, the existence of God, obsession and human perception. A vivid depiction of life aboard ship in the nineteenth century it is perhaps the most detailed and accessible existing picture of what was, for a time, the richest industry in the United States. If at times the text seems stilted or antiquated, as might be expected from any work from this era, it is equally true that at times the text attains a soaring, almost lyric tone. The most casual reader cannot fail to appreciate the unforgettable characters, compelling storyline and vivid depictions of whales, whalers and whaling, and the obsession-driven quest after the great white whale upon which Ahab leads, and the crew follows, to their doom. And this, without anything more, makes Moby Dick essential reading. Herman Melville (1819-1891) was an author of the American Renaissance, or Romantic, period. Born in New York City, he was the third child of a successful merchant. He worked as a schoolteacher before going to sea for the first time in 1839. Serving on a whaler in 1842, he jumped ship and spent a month living among South Pacific islanders. His first novel, "Typee" (1846), a bestseller, was based in part on his experiences in the South Pacific as was the successful sequel, "Omoo" (1847). The same year Melville, now a successful novelist, married Elizabeth Knapp Shaw. They would have four children between 1849 and 1855. "Mardi" and "Redburn," both published in 1849, met with limited success. "Mardi" in particular was criticized as so thematically dense as to be incomprehensible. "White-Jacket" (1850), based on Melville''s brief service in the U.S. Navy, was his most influential work during his lifetime, with graphic descriptions of flogging that led directly to banning the practice on naval vessels. "Moby Dick" and several additional failed novels and poetry collections followed. Melville sank into obscurity and died in 1891, about 20 years before "Moby Dick" was recognized as a literary classic.

No library''s complete without the classics! "Call me Ishmael" says Moby Dick''s protagonist, and with this famous first line launches one of the acclaimed great American novels. Part adventure story, part quest for vengeance, part biological textbook and part whaling manual, Moby Dick was first published in 1851. The story follows Ishmael as he abandons his humdrum life on shore for an adventure on the waves. Finding the whaler Pequod at harbour in Nantucket, he signs up for a three year term without meeting the Captain of the ship, a mysterious figure called Ahab. It is only well into the voyage that Ahab''s thirst for vengeance against the eponymous white whale Moby Dick--and the consequences--become clear. The novel is semi-autobiographical: Herman Melville had had his own experience of whaling, having spent a year and a half aboard a whaling ship and further years travelling the world in the early 1840s. Herman used the knowledge gained from his experiences and wide reading on the subject to furnish Moby Dick with an almost encyclopaedic quality at times. The literary style varies widely, veering from soliloquies and staged scenes to dream sequences to comprehensive lists of ships provisions, but everything serves to further detail the world that''s being painted. Presented here is the New York edition, which was published later than the London edition and reverted numerous changes the original publishers had made, as well as including the initially omitted epilogue. Complete Unabridged Original Illustrated with book-end doodles about reading

Embark on an epic voyage with Herman Melville''s classic, "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale." This timeless masterpiece captures the relentless pursuit of vengeance and the profound depths of human obsession as narrated by the sailor Ishmael. Join Captain Ahab on his fateful quest aboard the whaling ship Pequod as he seeks revenge against Moby Dick, the formidable white whale that maimed him. Melville''s intricate narrative and vivid descriptions dive deep into the complexities of fate, nature, and the human spirit. But what drives Ahab’s unyielding pursuit of the whale? Is his quest fueled by personal vengeance, or does it symbolize a deeper struggle against the forces of nature and destiny? Explore the rich tapestry of Melville''s prose, where every chapter unravels new dimensions of adventure and existential reflection. This novel is not just a story of a whale hunt; it''s a profound exploration of humanity''s struggles and aspirations. Are you ready to journey into the heart of the sea and confront the mysteries of "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale"? Experience Melville''s epic tale and discover the challenges faced by Captain Ahab and his crew. Purchase your copy of "Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" today, and immerse yourself in one of the greatest literary adventures ever told.

"""Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street"" is a short story by the American writer Herman Melville, first serialized anonymously in two parts in the November and December 1853 issues of Putnam''s Magazine, and reprinted with minor textual alterations in his The Piazza Tales in 1856. In the story, a Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk who, after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copies or do any other task required of him, with the words ""I would prefer not to.""Numerous critical essays have been published about the story, which scholar Robert Milder describes as ""unquestionably the masterpiece of the short fiction"" in the Melville canon."

The narrator, an elderly lawyer who has a very comfortable business helping wealthy men deal with mortgages, title deeds, and bonds, relates the story of the strangest man he has ever known. The narrator already employs two scriveners, Nippers and Turkey. Nippers suffers from chronic indigestion, and Turkey is a drunk, but the office survives because in the mornings Turkey is sober even though Nippers is irritable, and in the afternoon Nippers has calmed down even though Turkey is drunk.

Moby-Dick: Large Printby Herman MelvilleMoby-Dick is an 1851 novel by Herman Melville. The story tells the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whaling ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab seeks one specific whale, Moby-Dick, a white whale of tremendous size and ferocity. Comparatively few whaling ships know of Moby-Dick, and fewer yet have encountered him. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab''s boat and bit off his leg. Ahab intends to exact revenge.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is sailor Ishmael''s narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on 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, the work''s genre classifications range from late Romantic to early Symbolist. 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 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 longer than he had anticipated. Writing was interrupted by his meeting Nathaniel Hawthorne in August 1850, and by the creation of the "Mosses from an Old Manse" essay as a result of that friendship. The book is dedicated to Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius".The basis for the work is Melville''s four-year stint as a sailor on whaling vessels, which began in 1841. The novel also draws on whaling literature, and on literary inspirations such as Shakespeare and the Bible. The white whale is modeled on the 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. 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 October 1851, the chapter "The Town Ho''s Story" was published in Harper''s New Monthly Magazine. The same month, the whole book was first published (in three volumes) as The Whale in London, and under its definitive title in a single-volume edition in New York in November. There are hundreds of differences between the two editions, most slight but some important and illuminating. The London publisher, Richard Bentley, censored or changed sensitive passages; Melville made revisions as well, including a last-minute change to the title for the New York edition. The whale, however, appears in the text of both editions as "Moby Dick", without the hyphen.[5] One factor that led British reviewers to scorn the book was that it seemed to be told by a narrator who perished with the ship: the British edition lacked the Epilogue, which recounts Ishmael''s survival. About 3,200 copies were sold during the author''s life.

Annotations the adventure novel Moby Dick (Planet), the most famous of Herman Melville and the most important of his career. The novel tells the story of a young man who embarks on a whaling ship, the Pequod. His authoritarian captain, Ahab, suffered an accident with a whale that amputated his leg. Obsessed with taking revenge on her, he baptizes her as Moby Dick and sets out to chase her along with other companions, among them the protagonist: Ismael. the history of the most famous sperm whale in modern literature. But he suggests doing it calmly, "in a month," to assimilate it and delight in its wealth. Beyond being an adventure novel, Moby Dick is, according to the critic, one of the most complicated books to read, due to the complexity of its language. Herman Melville (New York, 1819-1891) writes about his own experience, since he traveled for years as a crewman on several ships, including a whaler. He was also inspired by the case of a whaling ship from Nantucket (Massachusetts, United States), which was attacked by a white whale. This served to shape the adventure of Ismael, who once embarked discovered that the true intention of Ahab is none other than to hunt down the famous Moby Dick. The young man tells in flashback how he survived the beasts of the animal, many times compared to the Leviathan of the Bible. Melville published this novel in 1850, but like the rest of his work he passed without pain or glory and it took many years before he began to be considered one of the great writers of American symbolism. The author resorts to allegory and symbolism to represent in Moby Dick the nature that is beyond the reach of man and in Captain Ahab the anger and the determination to achieve an end, a goal in his life.

I am a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written: -I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. I have known very many of them, professionally and privately, and if I pleased, could relate divers histories, at which good-natured gentlemen might smile, and sentimental souls might weep

Bartleby is a kind of clerk, a copyist, "who obstinately refuses to go on doing the sort of writing demanded of him." During the spring of 1851, Melville felt similarly about his work on Moby Dick. Thus, Bartleby can be seen to represent Melville''s frustration with his own situation as a writer, and the story itself is "about a writer who forsakes conventional modes because of an irresistible preoccupation with the most baffling philosophical questions." Bartleby can also be seen to represent Melville''s relation to his commercial, democratic society.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851) is a novel by Herman Melville considered an outstanding work of Romanticism and the American Renaissance. Ishmael narrates the monomaniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaler Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, a white whale which on a previous voyage destroyed Ahab''s ship and severed his leg at the knee. Matte Cover 8.5x11'' (Large Print)

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is sailor Ishmael''s narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the white 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, the work''s genre classifications range from late Romantic to early Symbolist. 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 centennial of its author''s birth. William Faulkner confessed he wished he had written the book himself,[1] 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".[2] Its opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael", is among world literature''s most famous.[3]Melville began writing Moby-Dick in February 1850, and would eventually take 18 months to write the book, a full year more than he had first anticipated. Writing was interrupted by his making the acquaintance of Nathaniel Hawthorne in August 1850, and by the creation of the "Mosses from an Old Manse" essay as a first result of that friendship. The book is dedicated to Hawthorne, "in token of my admiration for his genius".