Tag Archives: Moby-Dick

The Great American Novel ?

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

During this week in 1851, Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick was first published as The Whale in three volumes by Richard Bentley in London. Almost one month later in November, the first American edition was published in New York by Harper & Brothers. Although many think of … Continue reading →

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American Voyageur

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Few American writers have achieved the cultural impact of Herman Melville, author of the eternal classic Moby-Dick, yet he died unrecognized by his contemporaries for his genius. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Melville’s birth, Philadelphia’s Rosenbach Museum and Library has … Continue reading →

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Happy 200th Herman

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

With all of the hullabaloo about local literary star Walt Whitman’s 200th anniversary celebrations, I completely missed the fact that it is also the 200th birthday of Herman Melville. To celebrate the anniversary, Chronicle Books has published this splendid pop-up … Continue reading →

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Pierre; or, The Ambiguities

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

To be perfectly honest, I have always been ambivalent about Herman Melville. When I read Moby-Dick in high school, I found it to be an uneven slog. However, his iconic short story Bartleby the Scrivener provided me with a role model for life. The … Continue reading →

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Take a cruise on the Pequod

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Back in May, the U.S. public broadcaster PBS launched the Great American Read program, an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading through 100 of America’s best-loved books. PBS recently released a wonderful series of posters inspired … Continue reading →

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Only The Classics

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Brian D. Butler
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Call Me Ishmael

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

I rarely endorse Kickstarter projects, but Call Me Ishmael is a worthy literary project that deserves attention. Honored by the National Book Foundation with the Innovations in Reading Prize, Call Me Ishmael has already surpassed its modest Kickstarter goal. Inspired … Continue reading →

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Literary gifs

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

Santiago, Chile-based art director Javier Jensen has a whale of a time creating understated book cover gifs. Look closely.

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Mark My Words

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

For some bibliophiles the humble bookmark is an essential reading companion. I have some fantastic examples—nearly all gifts of course—but as often as not I resort to bits of paper, folded post-it notes or random ephemera to mark my place. … Continue reading →

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A screaming comes across the sky

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Brian D. Butler

The American Book Review is an award-winning publication that specializes in reviews of often neglected or under-rated novels, poetry and literary criticism from small, regional and university presses. Not long ago they published a marvelous list of the “100 Best … Continue reading →

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