Moby-Dick is one of the great epics of all literature. Captain Ahab´s hunt for the white whale drives the narrative at a relentless pace, while Ishmael´s mediations on whales and whaling, on the sublime indifference of nature, and on the grimy details of the extraction of oil provide a reflective counterpoint to the headlong idolatrous quest. Sometimes read as a terrifying study of monomania or a critical inquiry into the sinister effects of reducing life to symbols, Moby-Dick also offers colorful and often comic glimpses of sea-faring life. For almost thirty years, The Library of America has presented America´s best and most significant writing in acclaimed hardcover editions. Now, a new series, Library of America Paperback Classics, offers attractive and affordable books that bring The Library of America´s authoritative texts within easy reach of every reader. Each book features an introductory essay by one of a leading writer, as well as a detailed chronology of the author´s life and career, an essay on the choice and history of the text, and notes.