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In-8 carr� ( 215 X 165 mm ) de pp. [1-4], 5-512-2-XV-1 [2] ff. ( table ), broch� sous couverture imprim�e. Bois grav� de Alexandre NOLL et planche hors-texte. VERITABLE et RARISSIME EDITION ORIGINALE de la premi�re traduction fran�aise de MOBY DICK par Lucien JACQUES, Joan SMITH et Jean GIONO envolume, publi�e dans les Cahiers du Contadour ( Nos 5 � 8 ) entre mai 1938 et mars 1939. Ces Cahiers fond�s par Giono en 1936 s'arr�t�rent au d�but de la guerre. Sur les 600 exemplaires initialement pr�vus, il n'en subsisterait qu'une trentaine � la suite d'un sinistre sur le lieu de stockage. Ex-libris manuscrit Jacqueline MOYSE. Justification de tirage au cachet au faux-titre ( n�356 ). Micro fente de 1,5 cm � un mors, bel exemplaire, condition rare. Edition-Originale Litt�rature.

"Moby-Dick; or, The Whale," penned by Herman Melville in 1851, stands as a monumental work in American literature, melding adventure, philosophical inquiry, and deep symbolism. At its core, the novel narrates the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, the monomaniacal commander of the whaling ship Pequod, to exact vengeance on Moby Dick, a gargantuan white sperm whale. Ahab's pursuit of the elusive leviathan, which had previously maimed him, becomes a profound exploration of ambition, madness, and humanity's struggle against the unfathomable forces of nature. The story is recounted by Ishmael, a sailor aboard the Pequod, who serves not only as a narrator but also as a philosophical observer, pondering the mysteries of existence and the interconnectedness of mankind and the natural world. The narrative weaves together Ishmael's reflections, the diverse tales of the ship's crew, and detailed expositions on whaling, creating a rich tapestry that transcends the conventions of its adventure story framework. "Moby-Dick" is celebrated for its ambitious scope, intricate symbolism, and the complexity of its themes. Melville's use of language is both grandiose and penetrating, capable of shifting from technical descriptions of whaling to eloquent meditations on the human condition. The novel's famous opening line, "Call me Ishmael," signals the beginning of a journey not just across the seas but into the depths of the soul and the paradoxes of existence. The fame of "Moby-Dick" lies not only in its narrative audacity but in its capacity to provoke endless interpretation. Ahab's quest against Moby Dick has been read as an allegory for the hubris of man, the inscrutability of fate, and the eternal battle against nature's indomitable will. Over time, the novel has transcended its initial lukewarm reception to become a cornerstone of American literature, revered for its profound insights into the human psyche and the darkness and light that reside within the human heart.