What is Moby-Dick?
{{more sources|date=August 2024}} [[File:Moby Dick p510 illustration.jpg|thumb|[[Moby Dick (whale)|Moby Dick]] ]] {{italictitle}} [[File:Herman Melville 1860.jpg |thumb|300px|Melville about 1860]] '''''Moby-Dick''''' is a [[novel]] written by [[Herman Melville]]. It was first [[publish]]ed 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, [[Oil|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 (state)|New York]] a month later in November and, was in one complete volume. It was called its current title, ''Moby-Dick, or, The Whale.'' == Summary == Ishmael travels from [[Manhattan]] to [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]] because he wants to sail on a whaling ship. He finds out that he cannot leave because there are no [[Ferry|ferries]] from New Bedford to the [[island]] of [[Nantucket, Massachusetts|Nantucket]] late at night. Ishmael stays at an inn. The inn has lots of people, so he has to share a bed with a [[Cannibalism|cannibal]] named Queequeg. They become friends. The next day, Ishmael and Queequeg attend a [[Sermon|religious sermon]] about [[Jonah]]. After, they head for Nantucket. Ishmael chooses the whale ship ''Pequod'' to sail on. The ''Pequod'''s captain is named Ahab. Ahab is described as moody and odd. A man named [[Elijah]] tells Ishmael and Queequeg tha