When it was published, Moby-Dick was a commercial flop, and it took decades for it to be recognized as a great work of literature. What accounts for Moby-Dick's late rise to prominence? How did that compare with Melville's earlier writings? Who influenced Melville's writings, and who did his writings influence? What makes Moby-Dick a great American novel?
This event features Jeff Bilbro, associate professor of English at Grove City College and editor of Front Porch Republic; Andrew Delbanco, Alexander Hamilton professor of American studies at Columbia University and president of the Teagle Foundation; and Robert K. Wallace, regents professor of English at Northern Kentucky University and co-founder of the Melville Society Cultural Project. The discussion is moderated by David Randall.
Photo by I. W. Taber - Moby Dick - edition: Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11179929
