Books

First American edition of Melville's masterpiece and arguably the greatest single work in American literature. In the BAL first issue binding. This edition follows the three-volume English edition by a month and is the first with its familiar title, along with the addition of 35 passages and the epilogue. "Moby Dick" was originally a "complete practical failure, misunderstood by the critics and ignored by the public; and in 1853 the Harpers' fire destroyed the plates of all his books and most of the copies remaining in stock" (DAB). These mixed reviews and lack of commercial success led to Melville's financial difficulties and decline in literary reputation. However, in the early 20th century, the novel was rediscovered and reappraised by scholars and critics, who recognized its complex narrative structure, rich symbolism, and profound themes. This reappraisal firmly established "Moby-Dick" as one of the great American novels and a masterpiece of world literature. "Moby-Dick is the great conundrum-book. Is it a profound allegory with the white whale the embodiment of moral evil, or merely the finest story of the sea ever written? Whichever it is, now rediscovered, it stirs and stimulates each succeeding generation, whether reading it for pleasure or with a scalpel. Within its pages can be found the sound and scents, the very flavor, of the maritime life of our whaling ancestors" (Grolier). New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851. Publisher's original blue cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, border and central publisher's life-buoy device to covers in blind, orange-coated endpapers; pp. xxiii, 635, [6 ads]. Binding firm and secure, professionally rebacked with the spine laid down and light professional touch-ups to the rear board. The original spine shows minor loss to the tips and two closed tears to the crown, oxidized to green. Boards show toning, a few scattered ink drops, rubbing and light discoloration. Typical foxing throughout, endpapers rubbed with a couple of small penciled notations to the front endpaper, a penciled cross to the rear endpaper and owner's details to the first blank. A nice example, protected in a removable archival jacket.

"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.