This is destined to be remembered as one of the most-recognized first sentences in literature -- along with "Call me Ishmael." And Una Spenser, the transcendent hero at the center of Ahab's Wife may well become every bit as memorable as Ahab.
Inspired by a brief passage, in Moby, Dick, Sena Jeter Naslund has created an entirely new universe -- an epic-scale, enthralling and compelling saga, spanning a full, rich, eventful, and dramatic life. In the "soprano voice" whose absence critics lamented in Moby Dick -- the strong intelligent voice of a woman whose life is dominated by the sea -- Naslund tells many stories.
She narrates a family drama, as the child Una is sent away to live in a lighthouse to escape the blows of her religion-mad farther. She spins a romantic adventure, as Una finds early passion with a sailor, and disguised as a cabin boy, runs away to sea. She paints a portrait of a real, loving marriage, as through Una's eyes we see Ahab before the White Whale takes his leg and sends him into madness. Finally, she gives us a new perspective on the American experience, as the widowed Una makes a new life for herself in the company of Margaret Fuller, Frederick Douglass, Emersion and others.
Sena Jeter Naslund has thoroughly imbibed the spirit of Herman Melville, and that spirit permeates every scene of her novel. But great as her debt to Melville may be, Ahab's Wife stands alone, intact and vital. Inspired by a masterpiece, it is a masterwork in its own right.
Inspired by a brief passage, in Moby, Dick, Sena Jeter Naslund has created an entirely new universe -- an epic-scale, enthralling and compelling saga, spanning a full, rich, eventful, and dramatic life. In the "soprano voice" whose absence critics lamented in Moby Dick -- the strong intelligent voice of a woman whose life is dominated by the sea -- Naslund tells many stories.
She narrates a family drama, as the child Una is sent away to live in a lighthouse to escape the blows of her religion-mad farther. She spins a romantic adventure, as Una finds early passion with a sailor, and disguised as a cabin boy, runs away to sea. She paints a portrait of a real, loving marriage, as through Una's eyes we see Ahab before the White Whale takes his leg and sends him into madness. Finally, she gives us a new perspective on the American experience, as the widowed Una makes a new life for herself in the company of Margaret Fuller, Frederick Douglass, Emersion and others.
Sena Jeter Naslund has thoroughly imbibed the spirit of Herman Melville, and that spirit permeates every scene of her novel. But great as her debt to Melville may be, Ahab's Wife stands alone, intact and vital. Inspired by a masterpiece, it is a masterwork in its own right.
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Used availability for Sena Jeter Naslund's Ahab's Wife
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Hardback Editions
September 2003 : Library Binding
| Title: Ahab's Wife Or, the Star-Gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-613-62128-X / 978-0-613-62128-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Bt Bound Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 1999 : Hardback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-Gazer: A Novel Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-688-17187-7 / 978-0-688-17187-2 (USA edition) Publisher: William Morrow Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
August 2005 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-gazer: A Novel (P.S.) Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-06-083874-4 / 978-0-06-083874-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Harper Perennial Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
2003 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife Or, The Star-gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund Publisher: Perennial / Harper-collins Availability: Amazon More details... |
May 2001 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-7043-4683-4 / 978-0-7043-4683-3 (UK edition) Publisher: Womens Press Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-Gazer: A Novel Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund Publisher: Harper Perennial Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
October 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, the Star-Gazer: A Novel Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-688-17785-9 / 978-0-688-17785-0 (USA edition) Publisher: HarperCollins Canada / Harper Trade Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or the Star-gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-7043-4669-9 / 978-0-7043-4669-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Women's Press Ltd,The Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
1999 : Paperback
| Title: Ahab's Wife Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund Publisher: William Morrow Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
October 2003 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Ahab's Wife Or, the Star-Gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-7927-2707-X / 978-0-7927-2707-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Sound Library Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
November 2002 : Audio CD
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, the Star-Gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-7927-2761-4 / 978-0-7927-2761-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Sound Library Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
June 2003 : Kindle edition
| Title: Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer Author(s): Sena Naslund Publisher: HarperCollins e-books Availability: Amazon More details... |
February 2002 : Turtleback
| Title: Ahab's Wife: Or, the Star Gazer Author(s): Sena Jeter Naslund ISBN: 0-606-20536-5 / 978-0-606-20536-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Demco Media Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
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