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Moby-Dick.
An illustrated hardcover edition of Herman Melville's novel.
Hardcover
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Evan Dahm
36 books89 followersEvan Dahm is an artist who is currently living in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 11, 2024
I read the first two thirds of Moby Dick in a month. By March something snapped and I wasn’t in the mood anymore. The last 100 pages were the hardest. Early on I had the interest to read with interest or at least the enthusiasm to power through. Sometimes getting “off topic” added great context to the profession and setting, but most times it was un-welcomed. I’m not a fan of abridged versions but I can see how this could benefit. The the seafaring was fun. The subtext, or my take on it, about man’s hubris and self-destruction also great. But as a package I mostly appreciate it as a piece of classic lit and less as a good read. Maybe I need to reread someday. I am considering soon listening to an audiobook version just to have it all fresh in my head together. Perhaps it’d be helpful if not necessary as was with my read of the Silmarillion. I’m not that smart n good at readin.
My edition was the hardcover illustrated release by one of my favorite artists, Evan Dahm, and he does disappoint. His stylized interpretations in classic pen and ink hatching are beautiful. I’m glad I own this volume for both my book collection and my Dahm collection.
By coincidence, around when I was 100 pages in, I was fortunate enough to catch a fascinating stage production of Moby Dick in Pittsburgh while working out of state. Created by Plexus Plaire and directed by Yngvild Aspeli, this production of Moby Dick was comprised mostly of life sized puppets and amazing visuals. The audience was still and aghast during the scene where the sailors Pequod hunt and strip the blubber off a whale. There was one audible “oh my god” in an otherwise stunned crowd. It was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.
My edition was the hardcover illustrated release by one of my favorite artists, Evan Dahm, and he does disappoint. His stylized interpretations in classic pen and ink hatching are beautiful. I’m glad I own this volume for both my book collection and my Dahm collection.
By coincidence, around when I was 100 pages in, I was fortunate enough to catch a fascinating stage production of Moby Dick in Pittsburgh while working out of state. Created by Plexus Plaire and directed by Yngvild Aspeli, this production of Moby Dick was comprised mostly of life sized puppets and amazing visuals. The audience was still and aghast during the scene where the sailors Pequod hunt and strip the blubber off a whale. There was one audible “oh my god” in an otherwise stunned crowd. It was a fantastic experience that I’ll never forget.
February 8, 2019
First off, this edition: I appreciated the Evan Dahm illustrations of whales, sea, and squid, and of Stubb, whose grin and glinting eyes stick in my head somehow. Most of the other humans have a rounded quality about them that didn't always click for me; but that's the nature of illustration. I read this as an ebook but I think the art would be a lot more arresting in the hardcover.
As for the text: weird book, but in a good way — it's stranger and more colorful than a lot of 19th century classics. There are some downright bizarre writing decisions, like how Ishmael literally doesn't appear in 90% of the book, and how the story is frequently interrupted with chapters from another book, Look At All This Stuff I Know About Whales. That book is actually pretty interesting too, but I'd rather read it separately, or much condensed in footnotes.
Definitely worth reading for Ahab's lines ("Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me!"), and for learning that 19th century whaling had more absurd dangers than you'd think possible.
As for the text: weird book, but in a good way — it's stranger and more colorful than a lot of 19th century classics. There are some downright bizarre writing decisions, like how Ishmael literally doesn't appear in 90% of the book, and how the story is frequently interrupted with chapters from another book, Look At All This Stuff I Know About Whales. That book is actually pretty interesting too, but I'd rather read it separately, or much condensed in footnotes.
Definitely worth reading for Ahab's lines ("Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me!"), and for learning that 19th century whaling had more absurd dangers than you'd think possible.
June 28, 2017
Stunningly beautiful collectible.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews