¿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.