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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.

🇺🇸 Albany (NY) Evening Journal favorable
“We look forward with pleasure to the hours of leisure that will allow us to look through 'Moby-Dick.' We are sure there is amusement in it; for it opens promisingly. ”
— November 12, 1851
🇺🇸 Debow's Review favorable
“A favorable notice of Moby-Dick was published in this Southern commercial magazine. ”
— February 1852
🇺🇸 International Monthly Magazine favorable
“Really a great book, full of curious learning, and almost every page is illuminated with a fine and brilliant imagination. ”
— December 1851
🇺🇸 Lutheran Observer favorable
“Reprinted the favorable notice from the Baltimore Patriot and Commercial Gazette. ”
— November 28, 1851
🇺🇸 Boston Evening Traveller mixed
“Melville indulges frequently in profaneness, and occasionally in indelicacies, which materially detract from the merits of the book, which exhibits much tact, talent and genius. ”
— November 15, 1851
🇺🇸 New York Evangelist mixed
“Mr. Melville grows wilder and more untameable with every adventure. The delineation of character, too, is exquisitely humorous, sharp, individual and never-to-be-forgotten. ”
— November 20, 1851
🇺🇸 New York Albion mixed
“Vivid sketches done in the author's best style. Characterization of Ahab ruined, by a vile overdaubing with a coat of book-learning and mysticism. Still, not lacking much of being a great work. ”
— November 22, 1851
🇺🇸 New York Christian Inquirer mixed
“Vivid dashing style of narrative and characterization, that takes one along by force. On the other hand: We could wish a little less rambling in the story, and a little more reverence in the spirit of the book. ”
— November 22, 1851
🇺🇸 Albany (NY) Evening Atlas mixed
“We cannot say that we admire this volume as much as some of its predecessors... it bears evident marks of carelessness and haste. But, nevertheless, whatever Melville writes will be read, for he is one of those few who have made their mark upon the literature of the age. ”
— November 21, 1851
🇺🇸 Saturday Evening Post mixed
“Peeping into it, here and there, we see much that looks as if it leads where one would like to follow; but swim on, 'Moby-Dick,' for the present, untouched by critical lance or harpoon. ”
— November 22, 1851
🇺🇸 Boston Daily Atlas mixed
“Written in the author's well-known style and spirit. We cannot claim to be admirers of Mr. Melville's productions, but to those who are — and their name is Legion — we can commend this volume, as fully equal in interest to any of its predecessors. ”
— November 20, 1851
🇺🇸 Boston Zion's Herald and Wesleyan Journal mixed
“We take exception to some of his moral views, but acknowledge his attractive talents. Few books are more readable than his. ”
— November 26, 1851
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Moby-Dick Annotated Edition

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  • ✅ Victorian vocabulary — obsolete words and nautical terms defined inline
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