Moby-Dick

One of the greatest feats of imagination in literary history, according to Melville, was his masterpiece. In part, Moby-Dick tells the tale of a terrifyingly alluring maniac who waged an abominable battle against a being that was as enormous, dangerous, and incomprehensible as the ocean itself. The book can be understood as a part of the author's lifelong reflection on America and can be seen as more than just an adventure tale or an encyclopedia of whaling lore and tradition. Moby-Dick is a serious examination of character, faith, and the nature of perception that is also written with a marvelous sense of redemptive humor.