Herman Melville's Moby-Dick

First published it 1851, "Moby Dick" still speaks powerfully to 21st century readers. Combining reprinted documents with clear introductions for student readers, this volume examines the contexts of and critical responses to Melville's work. It draws together: an introduction to the contexts in which Melville was writing and relevant contextual documents, including letters; a chronology of key facts and dates; a critical history and extracts from early reviews and modern criticism; fully annotated key passages from the novel; a list of biblical allusions; and an annotated guide to further reading. Extensive cross-references link contextual information, critical materials and passages from the novel providing a wide-ranging view of the work and ensuring a successful and enjoyable encounter with the world of Moby-Dick .