Moby-Dick (Norton Critical Editions)

Moby-Dick (Norton Critical Editions)

<p><strong>For this Sesquicentennial Norton Critical Edition, the Northwestern-Newberry text of <em>Moby-Dick</em> has been generously footnoted to include dozens of biographical discoveries, mainly from Hershel Parker's work on his two-volume biography of Melville.</strong></p> A section of "Whaling and Whalecraft" features prose and graphics by John B. Putnam, a sample of contemporary whaling engravings, as well as, new to this edition, an engraving of Tupai Cupa, the real-life inspiration for the character of Queequeg.<br /><br /> Evoking Melville€s fascination with the fluidity of categories like savagery and civilization, the image of Tupai Cupa fittingly introduces "Before Moby-Dick: International Controversy over Melville," a new section that documents the ferocity of religions, political, and sexual hostility toward Melville in reaction to his early books, beginning with Typee in 1846.<br /><br /> The image of Tupai Cupa also evokes Melville€s interest in the mystery of self-identity and the possibility of knowing another person€s "queenly personality" (Chapter 119). That theme (focused on Melville, Ishmael, and Ahab) is pursued in "A Handful of Critical Challenges," from Walter E. Bezanson€s classic centennial study through Harrison Hayford€s meditation on "Loomings" and recent essays by Camille Paglia and John Wenke.<br /><br /> In "Reviews and Letters by Melville," a letter has been redated and a wealth of new biographical material has been added to the footnotes, notably to Melville€s "Hawthorne and His Mosses." "Analogues and Sources" retains classic pieces by J. N. Reynolds and Owen Chase, as well as new findings by Geoffrey Sanborn and Steven Olsen-Smith. In "Reviews of Moby-Dick" emphasizes the ongoing religious hostility toward Melville and highlights new discoveries, such as the first-known Scottish review of <em>The Whale</em>. "Posthumous Praise and the Melville Revival: 1893-1927" collects belated, enthusiastic praise up through that of William Faulkner. "Biographical Cross-Light" is Hershel Parker€s somber look at what writing <em>Moby-Dick</em> cost Melville and his family.<br /><br /> From Foreword through Selected Bibliography, this Sesquicentennial Norton Critical Edition is uniquely valuable as the most up-to-date and comprehensive documentary source for study of <em>Moby-Dick</em>.