What is the difference between "Moby-d**k" and "Moby-d**k, or the Whale"???

Question

both are by herman melville.

but whats the difference?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick_o...

I see by a bit of research into this that Herman Melville's story about Moby-d**k was first published in three parts in the UK and called 'The Whale.' When the US got it, they published all three parts in one book with the title 'Moby-d**k or The Whale,' with no differences in the story.

I also see, however, under 'Herman Melville' at Wiki, that this book has been 'bowdlerized' in some cases, or, in other words, parts were left out or changed without Melville knowing it. That entry says to go to their entry on your specific book to learn if you have the original story.

Suggest you enlist the help of a reference librarian for that, even over the phone, as they will know the answer in moments, rather than us Yahoos stumbling around in encyclopedias and other research tools.

Reference librarians have extra training and all the latest equipment to tell you anything about your book that you'd like to know.

Good luck with it all, and enjoy the story.

Answer 2

I think they're the same book, just different printings. If a book with a longish title becomes famous, people will often shorten the title to refer to it, and eventually, publishers will copy the common usage.