Moby Dick (Readings Classics)

Tired of the monotony of life, Ishmael, a contemplative wanderer, sets out on a whaling voyage aboard the Pequod, a whaling ship under the command of the enigmatic Captain Ahab. It soon becomes evident that the voyage is not merely for profit. Consumed by a vengeful obsession, Ahab is on the hunt for Moby Dick, a monstrous white whale that once maimed him. As the crew journeys across vast oceans, they encounter other ships, strange omens, and the relentless power of nature, all while Ahab’s mania deepens. The Pequod becomes the stage for a tragic battle between man and fate.
A towering masterpiece of American literature, Moby Dick is a richly layered narrative that explores obsession, identity, and man’s confrontation with the sublime. Melville interweaves scientific detail with allegorical richness, positioning the white whale as both a literal creature and a symbol of unknowable forces.