Badum-bum…

All bad puns aside, today is Herman Melville's birthday (his 199th – next year will be a big one!) and the Free Library is paying tribute to the American Homer!

Our friends at the Rosenbach have an extensive collection of Melville items, including a first-edition of Moby-Dick inscribed to his father-in-law, Lemuel Shaw, as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s personal copy, both of which will be featured on this Friday’s Hands-On Tour in addition to a glimpse at handwritten letters. Offered almost every Friday at 3:00 p.m., Hands-On Tours at the Rosenbach allow you unparalleled access to rare and important items that are not usually on view to the public. (Advance registration is strongly recommended, as there are a limited number of spots on each tour and tours without registrants will be canceled.)

This fall, the Rosenbach is teaming up with the Independence Seaport Museum for a 24-hour marathon reading of the masterpiece in its entirety, accompanied by a boatload of food, fun, and activities for all ages. (Okay, that was the last bad pun. We promise). Mark your calendar for Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, and stay tuned to rosenbach.org for more information to come later this month!

You can also find Moby Dick ephemera in our digital collections via the Rare Book Department, and if you just want to read up and refresh your memory before joining us for the celebrations, you can check out the book, ebook, or audiobook from our catalog!