Moby Dick

By: Herman Melville

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

Length: 23 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

The outcast youth Ishmael, succumbing to wanderlust during a dreary New England autumn, signs up for passage aboard a whaling ship. The Pequod sails under the command of the one-legged Captain Ahab, who has set himself on a monomaniacal quest to capture the cunning white whale that robbed him of his leg: Moby-Dick. Capturing life on the sea with robust realism, Melville details the adventures of the colorful crew aboard the ship as Ahab pursues his crusade of revenge, heedless of all cost.

Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The greatest of American novels." ( Atlantic Monthly)
"[A]n intense, superbly authentic narrative. Its theme and central figure are reminiscent of Job in his search for justice and of Oedipus in his search for truth."( Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature)

Beautifully read

I used this narration along with reading a physical copy obtained from the library, which I highly recommend for this complex and dense book. The reader does a fantastic job of quickly decoding outdated, complex, and Shakespearean-like sentences with unrelenting ease. This makes the book far more accessible to those of us not born and educated during the era of American Civil War.

The Best Version!

Moby Dick is a brilliant novel, but it requires incredible attention. You need a reader who brings life to the words. Of the dozen readers with their versions of Moby Dick out there, Anthony Heald's is by far the best. He brings Moby Dick to life.

Adventure into deep thoughts

This book is as deep as it is difficult. When listening, make notes to look up obscure references to mythology, religion, and so forth. The book cannot be properly appreciated without understanding, for example, the connections between Perseus, Hercules, and Prometheus, or what the myth of Narcissus says. The ideas he works with are highly philosophical--he is criticizing and agreeing with certain philosophical positions and developing his own position as he wrestles with The Great Questions. This book cannot be fully appreciated in one, two, or even three readings--which is one reason why it is one of the greatest classics of all time. Take your time. Stop and think about the significance of strange passages. For example, the chapter on the whiteness of the whale, and the chapter on the study of whales, which reviewers were frustrated by, have significant meanings--they are not excess fat that should have been cut. Listen closely and you'll catch the humor, beauty, and sublimity of this masterpiece. After listening, return to it again in a few years. The second time around will likely yield a much richer experience.

Outstanding narrator

Adams Morgan is an amazing narrator, who gives distinctive voices to each of the many characters, with believable accents and palpable emotions. I will look for other works read by him.

I was surprised to find so much humor and satire in the book I've always avoided due to its reputation of being the "greatest American novel" and the dread of many students of literature. Melville repeatedly pokes fun at our human weaknesses and prejudices, making me laugh throughout the reading.

The book is written in language reminisent of Shakespeare: poetic, powerful prose that begs to be reheard. My only regret is that by listening, I was unable to underline the most memorable sentences for future reference. A book of quotations could be filled with the many profound and witty statements in Moby Dick.

A hard listen

The book is a hard listen. The reader does a fine job with what he is given. However, the book is just too much. The book definitly has good sections, but the dull and irrelevent sections drag it down. I am not a fan of unabridged books, but this book - classic or not - could have used some trimming.

Antiquated, strange and fascinating

The narrator’s poetical voice shows you how the book was meant to be consumed—aloud. Things like bigotries of the day and dated presentation must be set aside to get through, but the tale is worth it. If your likes lean to the romance of the sea and sailors and you have a love of history, then this is your book.

Excellent performance for an excellent book!

I absolutely loved this story. The reader kept my interest with his tone and style. If you're looking to listen to Moby Dick, I highly recommend this selection!

I wish I had purchased the abridged version

While the detailed catalogs and descriptions held my interest when I was reading the book, it put me to sleep in the audio version. Also, the reader has a small affectation in his speach that I thought I could get used to, but it grated against me from start to finish. Still, this audiobook is worth listening to... I just wish I had purchased the abridged version.

Good but..

Where does Moby Dick rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's not the best but it is ranked high

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, It gets long and has slow parts.

Any additional comments?

It's a classic that everyone should read. But there is a reason it was not popular in his life time, but is better as a historical account of the old whalers.

classic conquered

Moby Dick is a book I've been wanting to read for years now. I've picked it up dozens of times but never had the time to get very far into it. Now I've finally been able to with Audible. Great app. Great book.