Herman Melville wrote this globally renowned epic adventure story in the mid-1800s. The book was originally titled ‘The Whale’ before it later became ‘Moby Dick’. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest novels ever to come out of the United States.
Most people are at least aware of the book, which famously begins with the phrase ‘Call me Ishmael’. Ishmael is an outcast working on a whaling boat and the story is about all the adventures he has and strange characters he meets during his time there.
This is one of the most beloved books in the English language, but there are lots of little-known facts to learn about what is now considered Melville’s magnum opus.
Here are a few facts about the context in which Moby Dick was written.
Melville Had Been Whaling
Herman Melville himself had experience in the world of whaling, having worked on a whaling ship in his time called ‘The Acushnet’.
It Was Inspired By a True Story
Melville heard a story about a notorious sperm whale attacking a whaling boat, causing it to sink and all the crew to die. Moby Dick, the whale, was also inspired by a real life whale, who was called Mocha Dick.
It Wasn’t An Instant Success
On publication, ‘Moby Dick’ was by no means an instant favorite with the public. In fact, it was poorly received, selling only a few thousand copies around the world. It wasn’t until 100 years later, in the mid-20th Century, that it was recognized as one of the most important American novels ever written.
If you can’t resist the pull of a great adventure story, you’re in luck: www.ovymedia.com has a curated library of adventure content for readers of all ages and tastes.
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