Moby Dick

In this superb abridgment, the richness of Melville's prose pours out like thick cream from an iron pitcher. Haunting phrases and word-painted, wild scenes are mixed with selections of classical music, mostly somber, selected by a skilled producer. Bill Bailey, a British actor, sounds as American as the whaling men he describes, a low, intense presence with distinct differentiation of the characters. His Captain Ahab is memorable, calling to mind Gregory Peck's movie portrayal. I miss the end-of-side announcements found on most audiobooks but count this as one of the best titles I've reviewed. D.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

January 1, 2003
Comic book aficionados will appreciate master Will Eisner's latest adaptation, Moby Dick. It may not begin, "Call me Ishmael," but the story otherwise remains true to Herman Melville's classic, with Queequeg, Ahab and the great white whale all making their entrances on cue. The cartoon panels that chronicle the final showdown between the captain and the giant fish are particularly spectacular.

November 1, 2009
Gr 9 Up-Call him Ishmael, Ahab, Starbuck, and more. Jack Aranson plays all the characters in this one-man theatrical adaptation of Herman Melville's classic tale. Ishmael tells the story of Captain Ahab's obsession to kill the giant white whale that ate one of his legs. Aranson's deep voice and New England accent are perfect for the 19th-century dialogue. This rendition relies on Aranson's acting to bring the story to life and only has minimal props and scenery. The performance was taped live in 1978 and the picture quality is not the best. The format is DVD-R and there is not a menu. The film is divided into chapters, but there is not a scene selection menu or scene titles to describe content, making it difficult to locate and show a specific section of the film. However, Aranson's first-rate acting performance is a great example for drama classes, and this theatrical adaptation of a literary masterpiece will appeal to English classes."Samantha Larsen Hastings, West Jordan Library, UT"

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