Moby Dick

Herman-Melville

Moby Dick

Moby Dick

If you want to download the book click on the image

 to download it in PDF format or click here

This is part of the introduction to the book

CHAPTER 1

Loomings

Call me Ishmael. Some years ago--never mind how long precisely--

having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular

to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little

and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have

of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation.

Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth;

whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I

find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses,

and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet;

and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me,

that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from

deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking

people's hats off--then, I account it high time to get to sea

as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball.

With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword;

I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this.

If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time

or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards

the ocean with me.