Herman Melville's epic tale of obsession has all the ingredients of a first rate drama--fascinating characters in solitude and society, battles between good and evil, a thrilling chase to the death--and yet its allusions, digressions, and sheer scope can prove daunting to even the most intrepid reader. George Cotkin's Dive Deeper provides both a guide to the novel and a record of its dazzling cultural train. It supplies easy-to-follow plot points for each of the novel's 135 sections before taking up a salient phrase, image, or idea in each for further exploration. Through these forays, Cotkin traces the astonishing reach of the novel, sighting the White Whale in mainstream and obscure subcultures alike, from impressionist painting circles to political terrorist cells. In a lively and engaging style, Dive Deeper immerses us into the depths of Melville's influence on the literature, film, and art of our modern world. Cotkin's playful wit and critical precision stretch from Camus to Led Zeppelin, from Emerson to Bob Dylan, and bring to life the terrors and wonders of what is arguably America's greatest novel.

About the Author
George Cotkin is Professor of History at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Reviews
[An] entertaining companion to Moby-Dick. * Publishers Weekly, selected as a Pick of the Week *
Dive Deeper is a pleasure to read and the truest portrait of Moby-Dick in American life and letters yet produced. * David Dowling, author of Chasing the White Whale: The Moby-Dick Marathon; or What Melville Means Today *
seriously entertaining ... this new companion is as affable as it is smart * The Boston Globe *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199855759
Author George Cotkin
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 458g
Dimensions(mm) 274mm * 237mm * 16mm