Moby Dick

by Geraldine McCaughrean (Adaptor), Victor G. Ambrus (Illustrator), Herman Melville

El "Pequod" zarpa del puerto norteamericano de Nantucket y emprende un largo viaje con el objetivo de cazar ballenas y llenar con su apreciado aceite los barriles de la bodega. Pero los tripulantes del ballenero ignoran que la verdadera intención del capitán Ahab es recorrer los océnaos para buscar y dar muerte a Movy Dick, un peligroso cachalote blanco que le arrebató una pierna cuando intentaba darle caza en un viaje anterior. Envenenado por el odio y movido por el insano afán de venganza, el viejo tullido consigue doblegar la voluntad de sus subordinados y contagiarles su desatinado propósito, hasta el punto de poner en grave riesgo sus vidas. Nadie en el "Pequod" se salva del despotismo y la locura de Ahab: ni el primer oficial del barco, el prudente y bondadoso Starbuck, ni el diestro arponero Quiqueg, un indígena de piel tatuada y generosidad sin límites, ni el meditabundo Ismael, el joven narrador del relato, ni tan siquiera Fedallah, un tipo siniestro que lidera a un grupo de marineros filipinos. Casi todos ellos sucumben a la delirante obsesión de un atormentado personaje que identifica la ballena blanca con todos sus males físicos y dudas existenciales.

En esta vibrante adaptación de Moby Dick, la novelista Geraldine McCaughream relata con mano diestra y escrupulosa fidelidad toda la trama de una novela subyugadora. La obra ha sido magníficamente ilustrada por el artista húngaro Víctor G. Ambrus y se completa con un apéndice de actividades que ayudan a profundizar en los valores literarios e ideológicos de la novela.

Genres: Classics, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2012

About the author

Geraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist. She has written more than 170 books, including Peter Pan in Scarlet (2004), the official sequel to Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the holder of Peter Pan's copyright. Her work has been translated into 44 languages worldwide. She has received the Carnegie Medal twice and the Michael L. Printz Award among others.

Reviews

[Repix Pix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las adaptaciones de Geraldine son una maravilla.

[Barbara DaCosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version of Moby Dick presents Herman Melville's complete story line. I came across this book while researching for my own work Mighty Moby, and really enjoyed McCaughren's adaptation of this classic. She was able to capture the majesty of the story, and the poetic elegance of Melville's writing while making it her own original work. She also did this without talking down to a younger audience or calling attention to her writing unecessarily. The illustrations are fabulous.

[Zoe Kennard]

The problem with abridging an 800 page novel from 1851 into a 100 page picture book is that the things I found charming in the original (the homoeroticism and the digressions about dubiously accurate whale facts) are of course the first things to be cut, leaving behind mostly just the racism and depression. I'm also fascinated by the choice to add an epilogue that somehow makes it even more dismal. I do sort of like the illustrations though.

[Kalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s be real, I was never going to read the original full version of Moby Dick. That’s not the kind of reader I am. That’s why I like this book so much. It gives me all the knowledge I need to answer Jeopardy questions and some very splendid pictures to help my imagination along.

[Gig Wailgum · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting take on the classic. did not like the beginning but the middle and end were strong. illustrations were excellent.

[Kátia Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que história linda! Que obsessão trágica!Uma lição para aprendermos que a vingança não traz paz de espírito. Perdoar/esquecer e seguir em frente é o melhor remédio.

[Glenn Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the original--I hear it's boring and slow in the vast middle--so I think we just got all the action in this Oxford Illustrated version! My children enjoyed listening to me read it to them.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned more history of the sea and sparked memories of a childhood spent near the ocean.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm recommending this for the illustrations. Victor Ambrus at his best!