Classics · Adventure
Moby-Dick
Ishmael signs on to the whaling ship Pequod, whose captain, Ahab, is obsessed with hunting the white whale that took his leg. The novel mixes the voyage with long chapters on whales, ships and philosophy.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1851
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 549
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you like ambitious, strange, encyclopedic novels with lots to chew on.
Skip this if you want a swift adventure or are distressed by detailed whaling scenes.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Moby-Dick
- What is Moby-Dick about?
- Ishmael signs on to the whaling ship Pequod, whose captain, Ahab, is obsessed with hunting the white whale that took his leg. The novel mixes the voyage with long chapters on whales, ships and philosophy.
- Who should read Moby-Dick?
- Read it if you like ambitious, strange, encyclopedic novels with lots to chew on. Skip it if you want a swift adventure or are distressed by detailed whaling scenes.
- How long and how fast is Moby-Dick?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 549 pages, first published in 1851.
- Does Moby-Dick have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Animal death.
- Can I borrow Moby-Dick for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Moby-Dick; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Moby-Dick?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Old Man and the Sea, Heart of Darkness, Life of Pi.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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