Books

Small Octavo. It was THIS Rockwell Kent Edition which put Moby Dick in the consciousness of America and the world. On the map, so to speak. The reputation of what is arguably the greatest American novel was not established until the printing of this edition, published by Random House in 1930, 80 years after Melville began writing it. Melville began work on Moby Dick in 1850 and the work was published in 1851 to mixed reviews. Only 500 copies were printed in Britain and 2,915 in America. Neither sold out and three years later 1st Edition copies were still available. And thus, Moby Dick was relegated to the dust bin of obscurity. Enter ROCKWELL KENT, one of the most sought-after illustrators of the first half of the 20th century, with a world-wide following. Kent's illustrations were reprinted with permission from the Lakeside Press, which had just produced its own three-volume edition of the seminal classic. Kent's 280 woodcut Art Deco illustrations, coupled with a superb production by Random House, helped create THE consummate edition of Moby Dick and launched Melville's novel to iconic status. xxxi, [1], 822, [1] [Epilogue, Colophon] [2] pp. Near Fine in a Very Good+ dust jacket. Bound in black cloth over boards with titles and lavish illustration stamped in silver on front and spine. Square tight binding. Clean interior. The notoriously fragile dust jacket, the finest we've seen, in nicer condition than most, with very mild edge wear and a touch of age toning. Presents handsomely in archival mylar. A lovely and quite desirable copy of one of the greatest literary editions published in the 20th century.

"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.