Its famous opening line, "Call me Ishmael," dramatic in its stark
simplicity, begins an epic that is widely regarded as the greatest novel
ever written by an American. Labeled variously a realistic story of
whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a
symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict, Moby Dick is first and
foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea
ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey. When
Melville's father died in 1832, the young man's financial security went
too. For a while he turned to school-mastering and clerking, but failed to
make a sustainable income. In 1840 he signed up on the whaler, Acushnet,
out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was just 21. A whaler's life turned
out to be both arduous and dangerous, and in 1842, Melville deserted ship.
Out of this experience and a wealth of printed sources, Melville crafted
his masterpiece. 18 unabridged CDs comprising 21 Hours of content.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Knowing Muller, recently deceased, read this is recommendation enough,
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This review is from: Moby Dick [UNABRIDGED Audiobook] (Recorded Books Unabridged Classics) (Audio CD)
For those who don't know the name, Frank Muller was among the best when it came to transmitting books into audio form. He respected the work, the voice of the author and he knew enough to put himself second and the work first.So why do I speak of him in past tense? Because this man with a gift for words, language and acting (he had classical training as an actor) died on June 4, 2008. You can read more about that on my profile page, if you are so interested. In the meantime, if you want an audio version of Melville's classic work and if you want to be entranced by the tale of man and whale, you can't do better than this version. Yes, you could read it...yes, you could try to cipher out the meaning in the work but I'd make the argument that listening to Frank Muller read this is likely to lead you towards a greater understanding of this work than if you read it on the page. A controversial view, perhaps, but think of how many plays or works of art or pieces of music you've seen or heard and then consider how much fuller the experience can be when you have a multi-sensory approach. Audiobooks offer that opportunity and when it comes to man and whale and reader and book...well, listen to the version by Frank Muller. For sheer power, grace, beauty and the ability to transmit the MEANING of this novel, you won't do better. If you don't already know the plot, well...on the surface it is about a man's obsession with hunting one particular whale. The surface, of course, is just that. I'd had to read this book during college and can say that it wasn't till I heard the book read aloud, by Frank Muller, that I began to have a stronger sense of why this book is considered a classic. The man puts the nuances into the words, leads the reader in directions unexpected...a bit like finding some strange sea creature in the depths of the ocean or some awareness in a part of one's brain that was untapped before then. So take your literary journey with Muller as your guide. After that, if you want to find critiques of the book, try to parse out the transcendent meaning and all that, you'll have had a great start by simply listening to one fine reader first.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best narration, hands down!,
This review is from: Moby Dick [UNABRIDGED Audiobook] (Recorded Books Unabridged Classics) (Audio CD)
Mr. Muller's narration of this classic tale is a real treat. His delivery is faultless. I can't remember ever hearing a more expressive rendition of ANY book. I had read Moby Dick before, but I didn't remember the sly humor or the simple decency and clarity of the writing. Hearing Mr. Muller read it, however, brings the old text to brilliant new life. Do yourself a favor and "read" this version.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Phenomenal Narration!,
By
This review is from: Moby Dick [UNABRIDGED Audiobook] (Recorded Books Unabridged Classics) (Audio CD)
This audiobook is a superb narration of an American classic. The story itself is compelling and memorable, and this audio presentation truly brings the text to life. The complete and unabridged novel, nothing is omitted or changed. However, in CD format, it is simple to skip over chapter like "Cetology" if one chooses (or to revisit one's favorite lines!).Frank Muller's clear, measured voice is like that of a trusted friend. He relates even then lengthier and more ponderous passages with energy and clarity, capturing the youthful vitality and introspective wonder of Ishmael and expressively rendering the power and inner turmoil of Ahab. Melville's text contains numerous instances of wry humor, and this version highlights those subtle nuances that even veteran readers may overlook. I often read passages as I listened to the audiobook, and I found that this narration is not only accurate, but also engaging and illuminating. Muller reads with dynamism, often adopting different voices to capture both the sound and speech patterns of particular characters. His portrayals of Queequeg, Peter Coffin, Fleece, and Ahab are of particular note. As a college English instructor, I have played select sequences for my classes with great results. This audiobook is an outstanding way to introduce new readers to a classic novel or reveal new dimensions to those already familiar with the tale.
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