"moby-dick; or, the whale" is an 1851 novel written by american author herman melville. the story is told by ishmael, a sailor aboard a whaling ship captained by ahab who embarks on an obsessive quest for revenge against a giant sperm whale that bit off his leg on a previous voyage. originally receiving mixed reviews, "moby dick" was a failure when first published and was no longer in print when melvillie died in 1891. today, however, it is considered a "great american novel" known the world over. "moby-dick; or, the whale" is highly recommended for all lovers of literature and deserves a place on every bookshelf. herman melville (1819-1891) was an american short story writer, poet, and novelist during the american renaissance period. other notable works by this author include: "typee" (1846), "bartleby, the scrivener" (1853), and "the encantadas" (1854). read & co. classics is republishing this classic novel now complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.