Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Edition: Herman Melville · 1851

Source: Project Gutenberg #15, credited to Eugene F. Irey; updated 10 June 2026. Based on the first American edition, Harper & Brothers, 1851, according to the source catalog.
Mapped print edition: Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851; First American edition).
Opening passage ¶346: p. 1 (Scanned p. 1)
Opening passage ¶347: p. 1 (Scanned p. 1)
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Voices: Title and publication · Dedication · CONTENTS. · Half-title · ETYMOLOGY. · EXTRACTS. · CHAPTER I. LOOMINGS. · CHAPTER II. THE CARPET-BAG. · CHAPTER III. THE SPOUTER-INN. · CHAPTER IV. THE COUNTERPANE. · CHAPTER V. BREAKFAST. · CHAPTER VI. THE STREET. · CHAPTER VII. THE CHAPEL. · CHAPTER VIII. THE PULPIT. · CHAPTER IX. THE SERMON. · CHAPTER X. A BOSOM FRIEND. · CHAPTER XI. NIGHTGOWN. · CHAPTER XII. BIOGRAPHICAL. · CHAPTER XIII. WHEELBARROW. · CHAPTER XIV. NANTUCKET. · CHAPTER XV. CHOWDER. · CHAPTER XVI. THE SHIP. · CHAPTER XVII. THE RAMADAN. · CHAPTER XVIII. HIS MARK. · CHAPTER XIX. THE PROPHET. · CHAPTER XX. ALL ASTIR. · CHAPTER XXI. GOING ABOARD. · CHAPTER XXII. MERRY CHRISTMAS. · CHAPTER XXIII. THE LEE SHORE. · CHAPTER XXIV. THE ADVOCATE. · CHAPTER XXV. POSTSCRIPT. · CHAPTER XXVI. KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES. · CHAPTER XXVII. KNIGHTS AND SQUIRES. · CHAPTER XXVIII. AHAB. · CHAPTER XXIX. ENTER AHAB; TO HIM, STUBB. · CHAPTER XXX. THE PIPE. · CHAPTER XXXI. QUEEN MAB. · CHAPTER XXXII. CETOLOGY. · CHAPTER XXXIII. THE SPECKSNYDER. · CHAPTER XXXIV. THE CABIN-TABLE. · CHAPTER XXXV. THE MAST-HEAD. · CHAPTER XXXVI. THE QUARTER-DECK. · CHAPTER XXXVII. SUNSET. · CHAPTER XXXVIII. DUSK. · CHAPTER XXXIX. FIRST NIGHT-WATCH. · CHAPTER XL. MIDNIGHT, FORECASTLE. · CHAPTER XLI. MOBY DICK. · CHAPTER XLII. THE WHITENESS OF THE WHALE. · CHAPTER XLIII. HARK! · CHAPTER XLIV. THE CHART. · CHAPTER XLV. THE AFFIDAVIT. · CHAPTER XLVI. SURMISES. · CHAPTER XLVII. THE MAT-MAKER. · CHAPTER XLVIII. THE FIRST LOWERING. · CHAPTER XLIX. THE HYENA. · CHAPTER L. AHAB’S BOAT AND CREW. FEDALLAH. · CHAPTER LI. THE SPIRIT-SPOUT. · CHAPTER LII. THE ALBATROSS. · CHAPTER LIII. THE GAM. · CHAPTER LIV. THE TOWN-HO’S STORY. · CHAPTER LV. OF THE MONSTROUS PICTURES OF WHALES. · CHAPTER LVI. OF THE LESS ERRONEOUS PICTURES OF WHALES, AND THE TRUE PICTURES OF WHALING SCENES. · CHAPTER LVII. OF WHALES IN PAINT; IN TEETH; IN WOOD; IN SHEET-IRON; IN STONE; IN MOUNTAINS; IN STARS. · CHAPTER LVIII. BRIT. · CHAPTER LIX. SQUID. · CHAPTER LX. THE LINE. · CHAPTER LXI. STUBB KILLS A WHALE. · CHAPTER LXII. THE DART. · CHAPTER LXIII. THE CROTCH. · CHAPTER LXIV. STUBB’S SUPPER. · CHAPTER LXV. THE WHALE AS A DISH. · CHAPTER LXVI. THE SHARK MASSACRE. · CHAPTER LXVII. CUTTING IN. · CHAPTER LXVIII. THE BLANKET. · CHAPTER LXIX. THE FUNERAL. · CHAPTER LXX. THE SPHYNX. · CHAPTER LXXI. THE JEROBOAM’S STORY. · CHAPTER LXXII. THE MONKEY-ROPE. · CHAPTER LXXIII. STUBB AND FLASK KILL A RIGHT WHALE; AND THEN HAVE A TALK OVER HIM. · CHAPTER LXXIV. THE SPERM WHALE’S HEAD—CONTRASTED VIEW. · CHAPTER LXXV. THE RIGHT WHALE’S HEAD—CONTRASTED VIEW. · CHAPTER LXXVI. THE BATTERING-RAM. · CHAPTER LXXVII. THE GREAT HEIDELBURGH TUN. · CHAPTER LXXVIII. CISTERN AND BUCKETS. · CHAPTER LXXIX. THE PRAIRE. · CHAPTER LXXX. THE NUT. · CHAPTER LXXXI. THE PEQUOD MEETS THE VIRGIN. · CHAPTER LXXXII. THE HONOR AND GLORY OF WHALING. · CHAPTER LXXXIII. JONAH HISTORICALLY REGARDED. · CHAPTER LXXXIV. PITCHPOLING. · CHAPTER LXXXV. THE FOUNTAIN. · CHAPTER LXXXVI. THE TAIL. · CHAPTER LXXXVII. THE GRAND ARMADA. · CHAPTER LXXXVIII. SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLMASTERS. · CHAPTER LXXXIX. FAST-FISH AND LOOSE-FISH. · CHAPTER XC. HEADS OR TAILS. · CHAPTER XCI. THE PEQUOD MEETS THE ROSE-BUD. · CHAPTER XCII. AMBERGRIS. · CHAPTER XCIII. THE CASTAWAY. · CHAPTER XCIV. A SQUEEZE OF THE HAND. · CHAPTER XCV. THE CASSOCK. · CHAPTER XCVI. THE TRY-WORKS. · CHAPTER XCVII. THE LAMP. · CHAPTER XCVIII. STOWING DOWN AND CLEARING UP. · CHAPTER XCIX. THE DOUBLOON. · CHAPTER C. LEG AND ARM. THE PEQUOD, OF NANTUCKET, MEETS THE SAMUEL ENDERBY, OF LONDON. · CHAPTER CI. THE DECANTER. · CHAPTER CII. A BOWER IN THE ARSACIDES. · CHAPTER CIII. MEASUREMENT OF THE WHALE’S SKELETON. · CHAPTER CIV. THE FOSSIL WHALE. · CHAPTER CV. DOES THE WHALE’S MAGNITUDE DIMINISH?—WILL HE PERISH? · CHAPTER CVI. AHAB’S LEG. · CHAPTER CVII. THE CARPENTER. · CHAPTER CVIII. AHAB AND THE CARPENTER. · CHAPTER CIX. AHAB AND STARBUCK IN THE CABIN. · CHAPTER CX. QUEEQUEG IN HIS COFFIN. · CHAPTER CXI. THE PACIFIC. · CHAPTER CXII. THE BLACKSMITH. · CHAPTER CXIII. THE FORGE. · CHAPTER CXIV. THE GILDER. · CHAPTER CXV. THE PEQUOD MEETS THE BACHELOR. · CHAPTER CXVI. THE DYING WHALE. · CHAPTER CXVII. THE WHALE WATCH. · CHAPTER CXVIII. THE QUADRANT. · CHAPTER CXIX. THE CANDLES. · CHAPTER CXX. THE DECK TOWARDS THE END OF THE FIRST NIGHT WATCH. · CHAPTER CXXI. MIDNIGHT—THE FORECASTLE BULWARKS. · CHAPTER CXXII. MIDNIGHT ALOFT—THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. · CHAPTER CXXIII. THE MUSKET. · CHAPTER CXXIV. THE NEEDLE. · CHAPTER CXXV. THE LOG AND LINE. · CHAPTER CXXVI. THE LIFE-BUOY. · CHAPTER CXXVII. THE DECK. · CHAPTER CXXVIII. THE PEQUOD MEETS THE RACHEL. · CHAPTER CXXIX. THE CABIN. · CHAPTER CXXX. THE HAT. · CHAPTER CXXXI. THE PEQUOD MEETS THE DELIGHT. · CHAPTER CXXXII. THE SYMPHONY. · CHAPTER CXXXIII. THE CHASE—FIRST DAY. · CHAPTER CXXXIV. THE CHASE—SECOND DAY. · CHAPTER CXXXV. THE CHASE—THIRD DAY. · EPILOGUE. “AND I ONLY AM ESCAPED ALONE TO TELL THEE.” Job. · Project Gutenberg · Transcriber’s notes