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'''''Moby-Dick''''' (full title: '''''Moby-Dick, or, the Whale,''''') a [[novel]] by [[Herman Melville]] published November 14, 1851, is considered one of the finest novels in the [[English]] language. Initially a sales flop, it was not recognized as a great literary work until the 1920's.  Totaling 212,758 words, this novel is longer than most.

'''''Moby-Dick''''' (full title: '''''Moby-Dick, or, the Whale,''''') a [[novel]] by [[Herman Melville]] published November 14, 1851, is considered one of the finest novels in the [[English]] language. Initially a sales flop, it was not recognized as a great literary work until the 1920's.  Totaling 212,758 words, this novel is longer than most.

The facts (which take up about 1/3 of the text, the remaining 2/3 of the book is more of an encyclopedia of the American whaling industry) concern an obsession by one Captain Ahab to hunt and kill an albino whale named Moby-Dick, in revenge for the whale's prior attack on Ahab leaving him with only one leg.  The novel addresses the human struggle for meaning, happiness, and salvation.  Historians view ''Moby-Dick'' as the epitome of American [[Romanticism]].  "Call me Ishmael" (the narrator) is the famous beginning of the book, and it cites other biblical figures and themes throughout its story.

The facts (which take up about 1/3 of the text, the remaining 2/3 of the book is more of an encyclopedia of the American whaling industry) concern an obsession by one Captain Ahab to hunt and kill an albino whale named Moby-Dick, in revenge for the whale's prior attack on Ahab leaving him with only one leg.  The novel addresses the human struggle for meaning, happiness, and salvation.  Historians view ''Moby-Dick'' as the epitome of American [[Romanticism]].  "Call me Ishmael" (the narrator) is the famous beginning of the book, who is a famous person in the [[Book of Genesis]].  Captain Ahab, the central figure in the novel, is named after the demonic ruler who worshiped idols in {{bibleref|Kings|16:28–22:40}}.  Moby-Dick has many biblical references.

The story begins with a lengthy onshore prelude. Ishmael decides to enlist as a [[sailor]]:

The story begins with a lengthy onshore prelude. Ishmael decides to enlist as a [[sailor]]: