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This Day in Boston History
November 14th, 1851
Moby Dick's 150th Anniversary
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On this day,
Herman Melville published his first American edition of "Moby Dick"
with Hopper & Brothers, New York.
He sailed from New Bedford in 1842 on the whaling vessel Acushnet. After
nine months he jumped ship in the Marquesas Islands and was taken captive
by a group of cannibals. This experience formed his first novel, "Typee".
Melville wrote "Moby Dick" in 1851. It was panned by all except
Melville's friend Nathaniel Hawthorne. When he died in New York, the New
York Herald spelled his name wrong in the obituary they printed. Interest
in Melville's works was rekindled after his short story, "Billy Bud:
Sailor," was published after his death.
As a way of commemorating this day, the 150th anniversary of "Moby
Dick", the City of New Bedford, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal
Service, is issuing a limited edition postal cachet for a nominal fee.
Location: New Bedford Whaling Museum; Time: 10 AM - 12 Noon, 1 - 5 PM.
Contact: New Bedford Office of Tourism (508) 979-1745.
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From the writers of iBoston.org |
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