Moby Dick

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.

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