Moby-Dick

By: Herman Melville

Narrated by: Frank Muller

Length: 21 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Its famous opening line, "Call me Ishmael", dramatic in its stark simplicity, begins an epic that is widely regarded as the greatest novel ever written by an American. Labeled variously a realistic story of whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict, Moby Dick is first and foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey.

When Melville's father died in 1832, the young man's financial security went too. For a while he turned to school-mastering and clerking, but failed to make a sustainable income. In 1840 he signed up on the whaler, Acushnet, out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was just 21. A whaler's life turned out to be both arduous and dangerous, and in 1842, Melville deserted ship. Out of this experience and a wealth of printed sources, Melville crafted his masterpiece.

Public Domain (P)1987 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"Master narrator Frank Muller makes the most of his astonishing theatrical talents and vast experience to perform this tale of extraordinary drama. Muller uses emphasis and pauses to bring clarity to the visual depictions of life on the high seas, as seen by the doe-eyed Ishmael as he is led by the maniacal Captain Ahab. Listeners will hear the depth of emotions in Muller's voice as he paints the stark and shattering visuals of this classic story of revenge and, ultimately, survival." (AudioFile magazine)

Impeccably written and read accordingly!

This is a captivating story that grips more tightly as the story continues. Although winding is the tale, in itself Melville is entertaining. The manner which Herman Melville puts you on the ocean in the Pequod with Ahab, but takes you along entertaining notions of jocularity with his apt descriptions is comical while at the turn of a phrase becomes maniacal shows his true genius. I have listened to this book repeatedly because of its entertaining value, but also its true picture of man’s depravity so outlined by Ahab’s desire to thwart God. Ahab is not only the Captain of his ship, but strives to be the Captain of his life in all outcomes, as he sees his own imminent failure.

great story, recording has some issues

the recording sounds like it was damaged at some point. deep bass after narrator stop talking and skipping happens several times

Great story low quality editing.

At multiple points in the story the audio cuts out or repeats sentences interrupting the flow and degrading the experience.

The white whale

Love this book and was nice to listen to it. I like the narrator. The only issue is sometimes it gets glitchy like it was copy from a scratch cd

great listen with great narration

my only gripe is that the book has short audio issues here and there, otherwise it's great

Skips

This was obviously imported from a scratched CD and no one checked…
Very frustrating! But good book!

I Had No Idea Melville Was So Funny

I put off Moby Dick for a long time due to an experience in high school with Billy Budd. I didn't think I wanted to read this one, but was eventually swayed by some friends. Thankfully! Moby Dick's a thrilling adventure story full of depth and gravity and horror. It certainly earns its reputation as an American Classic. What surprised me, though, was how funny Melville is. I didn't realize he had such a sense of humor.

Muller's reading is, of course, a benchmark of excellence. He made this story come alive for me in ways I didn't think it could. I'm so glad I finally decided to give this one a chance.

What I spent my first credit on...and loving it

I haven't finished completely but this has been so good. This is my first audiobook and I have been reading along because I love the book so much. Everyone should listen!

Elements of greatness smothered w/ too much detail

It is interesting that Melville was not appreciated in his day - I'll bet his reputation was resurrected by academics who need suitable material for torturing students in American literature classes.

On the positive side, I love that Ishmael is a voice for cultural and racial acceptance and I even appreciate the seaman's-eye-view of life on a 19th century whaling ship.

I found the ad nauseum descriptions and dated lessons in marine biology more than a little tedious. The language Melville uses is interesting and challenging, but the real issue is his lack of self-restraint in the various tangents he takes.

You can't just say my reaction is the result of a modern attention span, because they didn't much appreciate it in his own time either.

A complete collection of sperm double entendres

Moby Dick: An overly exhaustive exploration of 19th century whaling with an interesting short story about a man and a white whale presented serialized within a mass of unnecessary words of cetacean proportions. Saved only by the many double entendres around the word sperm.