Listen free for 30 days

Preview

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Moby Dick

Written by: Herman Melville
Narrated by: Anthony Heald
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $35.30

Buy Now for $35.30

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

The outcast youth Ishmael, succumbing to wanderlust during a dreary New England autumn, signs up for passage aboard a whaling ship. The Pequod sails under the command of the one-legged Captain Ahab, who has set himself on a monomaniacal quest to capture the cunning white whale that robbed him of his leg: Moby-Dick. Capturing life on the sea with robust realism, Melville details the adventures of the colorful crew aboard the ship as Ahab pursues his crusade of revenge, heedless of all cost.
Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What the critics say

"The greatest of American novels." ( Atlantic Monthly)
"[A]n intense, superbly authentic narrative. Its theme and central figure are reminiscent of Job in his search for justice and of Oedipus in his search for truth."( Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature)

What listeners say about Moby Dick

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    114
  • 4 Stars
    59
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    150
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    15
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    49
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    19
  • 1 Stars
    12

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Long and Dry

The performance is great -animated and talented reader. The story is dry and long though. It took me a while to get through. Certainly more useful as a historical snapshot with a vaguely Hemingway-ish smattering of the philosophy of masculinity.

It was nice to see race acknowledged and not have it whitewashed and I liked how racial comments and views on the part of the characters which would be considered taboo today and framed as terms of endearment and fellowship.

It’s not bad. Think of it as a rite of passage.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

It's a classic for a reason!

Great book... I've always wanted to read it but was afraid of how massive it was...

It's a great story full of rich details and a very charming narrative... the dialog between the characters is often very very charming in a sailor-talk sort of way.

I must say thought that the narration by Anthony Heald is a MASTERPIECE... this is by far the best narration of an audiobook I have every heard... different and recognizable voices per character, perfect cadence, absolutely captures the spirit of the book. Kudos to you sir!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I see why people like it.

It very well may be the great American novel, it is however no matter of light reading - or in our case, listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a wonderful work

Such a wonderful book. Not only entertaining but educational. I’ve learned more about whales and whaling that I could ever possibly hope to have learned. It’s worth re-listening to again simply for the intelligent understanding of whales and spiritual and psychological concepts of obsession of a man to the Monomania we can all be susceptible to.
Read this ....or rather listen to this

By the way, the narrator is by far and away my favorite. Thanks

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Experiential experience! A world in a different time

After completing Moby Dick, I sincerely feel that I lived a lifetime as a Nantucket Whale Man. Personal Harpoon and all. I am certain I would have made Specksynder! What a glorious read, thoroughly enjoyed! Performance was impeccable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

#1Audible Classic

This American Classic is a timeless beauty and a refreshing listen in these troubled tumultuous times.
#1Audible

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If Shakespeare had been a whaler...

...he would have written Moby Dick. Glorious, baroque, and witty, The narration was exceptional. I will surely listen again someday.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A classic but it hasn't weathered the storm

More footnotes than... I can't think of anything that has more footnotes. Textbooks have less. Long plodding story which doesn't see the white whale until the last 1:45 left in the book. It's a classic true enough but what was a great book then doesn't mean it holds up to books today. Lots of errors and misconceptions about whales that I had a hard time overlooking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great classic with amazing narration

I think this audiobook may be better than the print form, due to the narration. I loved the way he was breathless while the character was pulling the oars in pursuit of his prey..

Not all classics suit audio I think, but this one was a big win!! Good job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great reading!

I really enjoyed this reader. He did an amazing job with all of the characters. It was a good story but not exactly what I anticipated.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!