Main content

Now considered one of the greatest American novels, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick (1851) initially sold fewer than 500 copies, was widely panned by critics, and had gone out of print by the time of the author’s death in 1891. We will find new reasons to enjoy this high-seas adventure. The instructor will bring a sailor’s eye and adventurer’s passion to the rich symbols and high drama found on every page of this epic American maritime journey. The class will plumb the depths of Melville’s world, its unexpected humor, and its unforgettable characters, finding the elements that link Ishmael and Ahab to our own time- and indeed to all times.