Moby-Dick Reviews Archive
Browse all 125 known contemporary reviews of Moby-Dick from 1851–1852, plus key revival-era criticism. The most complete collection online.
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Troy (NY) Daily Whig
favorable
“The reading public had hardly ceased its expressions of admiration for 'White Jacket' and its predecessors, when it is presented by the same author with a thick octavo volume... From a hasty glance at its pages, we predict that 'Moby Dick' will be universally regarded as 'Melville's best.'
”
— November 13, 1851
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Hartford (CT) Courant
favorable
“Melville's stories are decidedly interesting and graphic, and, as he writes, he improves in the minor details of incident, management, and style... well worth reading as a book of amusement, and well worth a place on the book shelf.
”
— November 15, 1851
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Philadelphia Inquirer
favorable
“Abounds with thrilling incidents, hair-breadth escapes, and remarkable adventures. It is especially suited for the lovers of the wild and wonderful.
”
— November 15, 1851
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The Literary World
favorable
“No everyday writing, and in Herman Melville's best manner.
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— November 15, 1851
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New Haven (CT) Palladium
favorable
“Possesses all the interest of the most exciting fiction, while, at the same time, it conveys much valuable information in regard to things pertaining to natural history, commerce, life on ship board, etc.
”
— November 17, 1851
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New York Morning Express
favorable
“What writer is more welcome?
”
— November 17, 1851 (based on the Courier review)
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Springfield (MA) Republican
favorable
“Mr. Melville has woven around this cumbrous bulk of romance, a large and interesting web of narrative, information, and sketches of character and scenery, in a quaint though interesting style, and with an easy, rollicking freedom of language.
”
— November 17, 1851
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Boston Morning Journal
favorable
“The work is a singular mixture of fact and fiction. The supernatural is interwoven with the matter-of-fact delineations of life on board a whale ship. The descriptions of the various operations of the whalemen are remarkably life-like... In many respects Moby-Dick is the best of the works of the author, as it certainly is the most instructive. We predict for it, with confidence, an extended popularity.
”
— November 18, 1851
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Pittsburgh Daily Morning Post
favorable
“Persons who have read the author's former works should read Moby Dick, as it is equal to any of them.
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— November 18, 1851
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New Bedford (MA) Mercury
favorable
“Characters and subjects which figure in it are set off with artistic effect, and with irresistible attraction to the reader.
”
— November 18, 1851
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Worcester (MA) Palladium
favorable
“There is life, elasticity, and freedom from restraint, in Mr Melville's manner as a writer; and originality and freshness in his matter... 'Moby-Dick' is full of spirit and energy, and will match his previous works in the race for popularity.
”
— November 19, 1851
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Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper
favorable
“This is a handsome volume of over six hundred pages, and contains one hundred and thirty-five distinct sketches, presented in that easy and yet racy style so characteristic of the author.
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— November 19, 1851
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The annotated edition of Moby-Dick gives you everything you need to finally get Melville's masterpiece:
- ✅ Complete, unabridged text — every word of the original 1851 edition
- ✅ Hundreds of explanatory footnotes — no more Googling every other page
- ✅ Historical context — the Essex disaster, Nantucket whaling, Melville's life
- ✅ Literary analysis — chapter-by-chapter commentary on themes and symbols
- ✅ Victorian vocabulary — obsolete words and nautical terms defined inline
- ✅ Biblical & literary references — every allusion traced to its source