“Among other things, Nathaniel Philbrick wrote In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, which was a National Book Award winner and covered an event that was an inspiration and backdrop of Herman Melville’s classic Moby-Dick. I’ve never read Moby-Dick, and it is unlikely I would read as much into the 135 chapters as Philbrick does, but then he has read the book many, many times. Nevertheless, I had no idea the book provided so much insight into Western culture as it does. I always thought it was basically a good and evil narrative. Whether or not you have read Melville’s classic, reading Philbrick’s short little treatise will make you want to. It’s a very satisfying read in its own right, providing a wonderful window into Melville and the USA in which he lived. I have since picked up Moby-Dick and made my first stab at it. I don’t do well with books rife with antiquated language, so I’m not sure I will succeed, but I’m going to give it a shot.”—Brad, Paulina Springs Book Store, with locations in Sisters and Redmond. Buy Why Read Moby-Dick? from Paulina Springs Books.
Face Out
Why Read Moby-Dick? by Nathaniel Philbrick
February 19, 2012