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)

Ahab v. Whale

If you intend to listen to this entire book in order to follow Ahab's famous struggle against evil, you will be surprised at how little of it there actually is. Across 24 hours of listening, I finally gave up waiting for the whale to resurface, and found myself enjoying the detailed descriptions of the mid-19th century whaling industry and sailing vessels. Melville left nothing out of his descriptions of all things salty. If it's Ahab v. Whale you want, then I highly recommend the abridged version, because there is actually very little of it in this full length book. Melville's vocabulary and use of the English language is amazing...people just don't write like this anymore - which may be a good thing for book sales today. But just think, if you listen through the entire 425+ pages, you will be one of the few living people who actually "read" the entire book, and you'll be able to correct pseudo-intellectuals who dare to bring up the subject at cocktail parties.

Unbelievably drawn out, but has some good parts

Excellent narration. But the story... oh my. I think the best part for me was simply getting a glimpse into the mindset of people from two centuries ago. What a different world. I learned a lot of history, I can say that. Not sure it was worth it though. Be prepared to wade through HOURS of scientifically inaccurate info about whales, having nothing to do with the story. The battle scene with Moby Dick was exciting, and a great climax. Took 23 hours to get there though.

Wonderful performance

Really enjoyed Anthony Heald’s voice and cadence. Brought this amazing book to life. The White Whale!

Extraordinary narration by Anthony Heald.

I admit I am partial to those wonderful English narrators like Simon West, David Timlin or Juliet Stephenson. Anthony Heald, for starters, has one of the finest-and really one of the few tolerable, American voices I have heard on any of these audio books. He is also a great actor. This is simply an extraordinary performance, a living out, hour upon hour, without a second of mistakes or lapse in effort, of this rich book. If I could, I would add a couple of stars just for Anthony Heald.

Moby Dick is a tapestry in many ways; an experimental novel. On one part, even with its global cast, Melville was trying to establish some "credence" for America, talking about the Erie Canal and so on. There are other parts clearly inspired by Shakespeare and his ilk. In places, it almost seems like a time-traveling Faulkner influenced the writing-or is it the other way. There are plenty of oddities, flaws and warts, but flights of language, imagination, scenario that stand the test of time. Books like this simply aren't written any longer, which is our loss.

A Classic

How many times this tome taunted me. Attempt after failed attempt, I, like Ahab, fought my foe. A masterpiece it may be, reading this was a chore every time I chanced it. Audible changed the dynamic such I was able to rejoice in the true genius hidden therein; I believe there are more classics waiting for discovery now the secret has been revealed.

A mothafuckin classic.

A mothafuckin classic. Qieequeg is savage as fuck. Learned about whales an shit. good read.

Well...it's a classic

Hard to read but great to listen to! Definitely need to remember the time period it was written.

Gripping.

It took me many months more to listen to this salty tale than the Pequod herself did sail upon the main. Yet, finally arriving at the end, I found it had been worth my while. Thank you, Ishmael.

BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND

If you could sum up Moby Dick in three words, what would they be?

The Great American Novel

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ishmael narrates this tale about the hunt for the white wale on his first voyage as a seaman. He tells it without exposing us to his psyche and with reverence for the professional whaler and the honorable men aboard the Pequod. From his very first words of the book "Call Me Ishamel" to the his final words as the only survivor, Ishmael is the keyhole through which we view the events and history and the sea. And most importantly, he makes us believe every word.

Which character – as performed by Anthony Heald – was your favorite?

No doubt, it was Ahab. Ahab whose madness is reflected in his soulful yearning for a confrontation with Moby Dick but then his poignant revelation of his love of the sea and whaling forces us to wonder if perhaps he was correct to follow his destiny and not mad. This journey evolves slowly and Mr. Heald performs it magnificiently, from the respected captain and earnest whaler to a driven obsessed madman. When Ahab succumbs to Moby Dick he reminesces on the loss of his life and the sacrifices he made to pursue the whale. Sacrifices that include loss of time with his child, wife and home. Mr. Heald presented Ahab with sensitivity and emotion. When members of the crew are killed, Ahab mourns and grieves with voice of an angel and when Ahab realizes that Moby Dick prevails, Mr. Heald projects audible surrender.

A clear, cold tale told in myriad swirling yarns

Having originally begun this tale as a doomed endeavor in 2006 while I was in 5th grade, I am glad to have finally finished it. I must say, it comes across better when read in the theatrical manner this production employs. I highly recommend to anyone looking to take on the beast, whether ye be a salty dog or a sea-sick whelp!