“Call me Ishmael” and Other Favorite First Lines in Literature

November 14, 2014 by Erin

Happy birthday, Moby-Dick! On this day in 1851, Herman Melville’s classic novel was first published in the United States. Even if you’ve never read the book, odds are you’re still somewhat familiar with Captain Ahab’s maniacal hunt for the albino sperm whale that ate his leg. You’re probably also familiar with the first sentence, because it’s one of the most well known in the literature world: “Call me Ishmael.” That’s a damn fine opening, especially for a novel that otherwise […]

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