It may be sitting on your shelf, this enigmatic beast of a book, a source of inspiration for adventurers, both real and armchair. You may have read chapters of it, seen a movie or cartoon version of the tale, or have always wanted to take the time to read it. Now's your chance (and you get credit for it, too). Written over 150 years ago by Herman ("I prefer not to") Melville, Moby-Dick is an American culturally iconic novel, a tour de force that went absolutely nowhere when first released. What makes it one of the most well-known American novels in the world? Join us as we dig into this epic melange of allegory and symbolism, technical reportage and metaphysical quest and find out. Join Ishmael as he tries to beat the blues; watch Ahab try to settle scores; and see whether little Pip gets his groove back. Learn what it means to be monomaniacal so that when you meet up with an Ahab, (and you will,) you can deal with it.

Before clicking "drop/add," be aware that this course requires a boatload of reading. In addition to 135 chapters of the central text, we'll be reading about and discussing Melville's contemporary contexts (environmental, literary, economic and political), as well as some of the more profound critical commentary of your contemporaries. Once this ship sets sail, there's no successful return to land unless you stay on board, on deck and on track with weekly commentary about your reading experience, your insights into Melville's views of culture, politics, religion and the sea-faring life, and demonstrate your engagement with the material.