Who is the author of “Moby Dick,” the tale of an obsessive hunt for a white whale?

Herman Melville

"Moby Dick," published in 1851, is considered one of the greatest novels in American literature, but it's interesting to note that it didn't meet with success upon its release. It was only well after Herman Melville's death that the novel was recognized as a major work, exploring deep themes such as obsession, revenge, and humanity's struggle against the forces of nature. What makes "Moby Dick" particularly fascinating is its allegorical and symbolic richness, offering multiple levels of interpretation. Captain Ahab, with his monomaniacal quest for the white whale, represents both human folly and a desperate quest for meaning. Melville draws from his personal experiences at sea and his extensive reading to create a narrative universe where the real and the symbolic are complexly intertwined. The novel, with its famous opening line "Call me Ishmael," invites the reader on a journey that is both physical and philosophical, forever marking the collective imagination.