Many critics consider Herman Melville's epic saga of obsession and high seas adventure to be the Great American Novel. A challenging but captivating read, it grapples with so many issues central to our national identity: racism, manifest destiny, power, science, commerce, and regeneration through violence. All these, of course, are pertinent to our current national moment. We'll read the entire novel in eight weeks, with side glances toward its avatars in popular culture from Hollywood films to greeting cards, home decor, and New Yorker cartoons.

Moderator: John Tallmadge is a retired professor of literature who has taught Moby-Dick to college classes and church reading groups. He is particularly interested in exploring the relations among nature, culture, and the human journey.