MOBY DICK was a flop ....

by compound complex 16 Replies latest jw friends

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Today is the anniversary of Herman Melville's birthday - 1 August 1819. His famous story of "The White Whale" was not a commercial success - the adventure was too long in coming, some one hundred pages into the book.
    He was not "discovered" until the 1920s [he died on 28 September 1891]. Other works by Melville are: MARDI, WHITE JACKET, published in 1850, PIERRE (1852), ISRAEL POTTER (1855), THE PIAZZA TALES (1856), THE CONFIDENCE MAN (1857) and BILLY BUDD (1891).

    It was a strange twist of fate that when he jumped ship around the age of twenty-one [he was on a whaling ship headed toward the Pacific] he was rescued by cannibals, who, departing from usual custom for Mr. Melville's personal benefit and that of future generations of appreciative readers, were more prescient than hungry.

    CALL me Ishmael. Some years ago - never mind how long
    precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing
    in particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail
    about a little and see the watery part of the world.

    - MOBY DICK 0R THE WHITE WHALE,
    opening words of Chapter 1, "Loomings."

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk
  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Thanks so much, Nevergoingback!

    I have read your posts and am sorry that I missed them when they first appeared. However, it was the announcer on NPR this morning who piqued my dormant interest in H.M. and caused me to grab up my copy of MOBY DICK. I was particularly happy to read your review on the Essex and her mishap, little realizing that that true adventure was the stimulus for Melville's masterpiece.

    Your kind attention to this thread has been pivotal to me and my further literary meanderings.

    Gratefully,

    CoCo

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk

    Thank you, CoCo.

    I love the NPR too.

  • Crumpet
    Crumpet
    Your kind attention to this thread has been pivotal to me and my further literary meanderings.

    Gratefully,

    I propose a motion - can we all address one another like this from now on. I LOVE it when people construct sentences with some thought and diversity in their choice of vocabulary. If only some others could try it now and again not mentioning any (Terry) names...

    *runs off to hide from potential spanks, in a totally out of character way*

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk

    I was thinking the same, Crumpet.

    CoCo's kind and elegant manner is most refreshing.

    Now. About those spanks...LOL!

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    Thank you, Crumps and Never, for your constant flood of cheer, goodwill and sunshine!

    Love,

    CoCo

  • John Doe
    John Doe

    Moby Dick had some interesting parts, but it was rather tedious and didn't seem to follow a pattern in some of his wild excursions from the plot. Perhaps I prefer a more focused narrative style, but I found myself easily nodding off while reading about the great whale.

  • compound complex
    compound complex

    John Doe: your point is well made. Strange but understandable, experiencing our high-seas adventure in the armchair - "nodding off" while tossing about the waves.

    Would to God these blessed calms would last.
    But the mingled, mingling threads of life are woven
    by warp and woof: calms crossed by storms, a
    storm for every calm. There is no steady unretracing
    progress in this life; we do not pass through fixed
    gradations, and at the last one pause: ....

    - MOBY DICK, Chapter 114

  • tijkmo
    tijkmo

    well it's not surprising really.

    have you seen a doctor

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