Nathaniel Philbrick, Why Read Moby-Dick?

About: Nathaniel Philbrick’s short book introduces the themes of Moby-Dick and discusses the life and circumstances of its author.

Verdict: The book is basically a series of quotation-heavy short essays that explore the various themes of Melville’s novel. It’s interesting enough, particularly the sections in which Philbrick casts light on Melville himself—his whaling experience, his relationship with Nathaniel Hawthorne. The author’s professed goal is to make readers want to read the novel, but I don’t think his appreciation of the book is sufficiently infectious to inspire many converts.

Publication: 2013 · 144 pages
Rating: 3.5 stars