Moby-Dick is a novel written by Herman Melville. It was first published in 1851. The story is told by a seaman named Ishmael. He sails on a whaling ship called the Pequod. Ahab is the captain of the ship. He wants to kill a white whale called Moby Dick. The whale bit his leg off. The book received mixed reviews. It did not sell very well during its author's lifetime. Moby-Dick is now thought to be one of the greatest novels ever written.
Melville took 18 months to finish his book. He based it off of things he had seen while sailing, and also books on whaling he had read. It contains a lot of information on whale hunting, whale oil, and life aboard a whaling ship. It also explores social status, ideas about God, and revenge.
The book was first published in London in October 1851. It was published in three volumes and was called The Whale. It was published In New York a month later in November and, was in one complete volume. It was called its current title, Moby-Dick, or, The Whale.