Arianna Vairo Books

It is the horrible texture of a fabric that should be woven of ships' cables and hawsers. A Polar wind blows through it, and birds of prey hover over it."So Melville wrote of his masterpiece, one of the greatest works of imagination in literary history. In part, Moby-Dick is the story of an eerily compelling madman pursuing an unholy war against a creature as vast and dangerous and unknowable as the sea itself. But more than just a novel of adventure, more than an encyclopaedia of whaling lore and legend, the book can be seen as part of its author's lifelong meditation on America. Written with wonderfully redemptive humour, Moby-Dick is also a profound inquiry into character, faith, and the nature of perception.

The story follows Monsieur Jourdain, a middle-class merchant who naively aspires to join the upper class, leading him to endure various humiliations while seeking guidance from unscrupulous instructors. His ambition makes him a target for a broke nobleman who exploits him for a lavish lifestyle. Caught in his schemes, Jourdain's wife and daughter navigate chaotic love affairs and a disruptive orchestra and ballet in their home. Ultimately, it is the resourceful servants who must restore order amid the comedic turmoil.