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Limited Edition. This set "Out of Series This is One of 15 Presentation Copies" as indicated by emboss on the colophon page of volume 2. This set was for Clifton Fadiman, who wrote the Introduction, designated on the colophon as "C F" where the copy number would be written. Two Volumes, complete. Specially bound in smooth dark blue denim cloth, black leather label patches stamped in gilt at spines. 287pp./287-615pp. The limitation of the edition was 1000 copies, in addition to the special out of series copies, and this copy is SIGNED as in all copies, by Boardman Robinson, the illustrator. A Fine set, without dustwrappers as issued. Provenance: laid in is a TLS from Edward Weeks, editor of the Atlantic Monthly, dated July 9, 1943 to George Macy requesting to reprint the Fadiman introduction in a future issue of the magazine, along with Fadiman's written comment along side the type-written text "Do you think it's really possible I have some talent or is Weeks shifting ["shitting"??] me because I'm 'famous'? CF." The set, with ephemera. Association copy. Q18362.

"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.