Several people spent the night on board the Charles W. Morgan taking turns reading from the classic novel.
Mystic Seaport hosted its 30th annual marathon reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick aboard the Charles W. Morgan last weekend, America’s oldest commercial ship still afloat.
The marathon, running from noon July 31, to noon August 1, Melville's birthday, is in its 30th year. The Morgan, built ten years prior to Moby Dick's publication, is the last vessel on the water bearing close similarities to the ship Melville sailed on when he was inspired to write his famed tale.
Twenty-five people spent the night on-board the Morgan, taking turns reading chapters from the novel. Some readers were new to the experience, slowly making their way through the winding Melvillian passages — others, more seasoned, voiced the book’s characters with animation and gusto.
At sunset, about 52 chapters in and 135 (plus the epilogue) to go, the Morgan’s passengers switched on their electric lanterns and head lamps. Listeners followed along silently, waiting their turn to recite a chapter.
Mystic Seaport museum supervisor Denise Kegler said at last half of the marathon’s attendees have made the event annually, with a few families of multiple generations attending together.
Watch excerpts from the marathon below.
Kegler said it’s “a deep love of the novel” that compels readers to participate in the marathon.
