Finished Moby-Dick last night. Among other things was wondering how it would have been different to read the book online instead of in comfy old falling-apart paperback. And does anyone think Joyce's "Nighttown" might have an ancestor in the way Melville turns some chapters into stage-plays? And where does Melville get all those visits with allegorically named ships -- Homer? Pilgrim's Progress?
One more thing: the Dec. 1 NYRB has an article on Melville. It's three bucks online. I haven't read the thing yet in print but would it be helpful to report back on same?
Posted by Martha Bridegam at December 7, 2005 04:18 PM