1,134 278 2MB
Pages 720 Page size 450 x 666 pts Year 2010
AHAB’S WIFE or,
The Star-Gazer a novel by
SENA JETER NASLUND
Illustrations by Christopher Wormell
In Token Of My Admiration and Affection This Book Is Inscribed To John C. Morrison
Contents E-Book Extras Praise for Sena Jeter Naslund's Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer List of Illustrations Extracts
xvii
1 A Mild Blue Day 2 The Dirge
1
10
3 The Crossing 4 Reverie
xv
13
17
5 The Window
20
6 The Steamboat
23
7 The Paddlewheel 8 The Island
29
9 A Difficult Farewell 10 The Giant
36
40
11 Winters, Summers 12 New Bedford 13 Boston
28
52
59
14 The Petrel
65
43
15 A Storm at Night
77
16 The Brightness of Brightness 17 A Rose
89
97
18 Our Lady of the Rocks
99
19 The Return of the Petrel, with Three Letters 20 A Comb
108
115
21 The Fourth Letter 22 The Camel
117
123
23 The Sea-Fancy Inn 24 The Sussex
128
136
25 The Cabin Boy
142
26 The Companion
151
27 Captain Coffin's Story-Secondhand 28 A Whaleboat by Moonlight
158
165
29 Captain Morrell's Story-Thirdhand
168
30 Captain Ahab's Story-My First Acquaintance with Him 31 Aloft 178 32 "Pardon Me" 33 Reunion
185
181
173
34 Revelation
190
35 Sea Storms
192
36 The Frost Wind 37 Collision
198
201
38 The Course
209
39 The Distance of the Stars 40 The Sentence
212
217
41 What Do You Fetch for Your Mouth? 42 The Beginning of the Debate 43 Father and Son
224
44 The Human Animal
225
45 The Alba Albatross
225
46 Ganglion
231
47 Postscript on the Above 48 Soaring
233
233
49 Portrait of a Virgin Listening 50 Icarus 51 The Test
222
236 242
52 The Funeral
244
235
218
53 The Contest
246
54 I Am Married
249
55 Aboard the Pequod
253
56 The Hurricane House 57 Ahab's Jottings
259
261
58 Kit's Ruminations
262
59 Starbuck Introduces Himself 60 Ahab Overheard
263
264
61 A Letter to the Lighthouse
265
62 Poor Kit's a-Cold 267 63 Arctic
268
64 Ahab in His Cabin 65 Aloft, the Pequod
277 279
66 Starbuck: Ship's Log
283
67 Starbuck Communes with Mary, His Wife 68 In the Steward's Pantry 69 Ahab's Comfort
288
289
70 Nantucket-the Faraway Isle
292
284
71 Ahab Prepares for the Next Voyage 72 Breakfast 73 Shame 74 B'twixt
311 314
318
75 Enter: The Gaoler and the Judge 76 On the Moor
325
330
77 A Slow Spring
334
78 Churches
337
79 Baptismal
344
80 Fire
300
352
81 Ahab Addresses the Flames 82 Ahab's Wife
358
83 A Sky Full of Angels 84 Resurrection
356
362
366
85 The Purpose of Art
370
86 The Office of a Friend 87 Childhood as an Island
380 386
88 The World of Rebekkah Swain
389
89 Kentucky Seasons 90 A Winter Tale
392
402
91 The Burden
405
92 The Lantern
410
93 Shakespeare and Company 94 The Guide
420
95 Getting Started
425
96 Forest Murmurs
427
97 In the Cupola 98 To Summer 99 Wife
440 450
457
100 The Mitchells
458
101 Vestal Street
462
102 Ahab
469
103 From Cupola to Wharf 104 Idyll
415
470
473
105 The Comet
480
106 Frannie's Letter from an Inland Lighthouse
483
107 An Angry Letter from Aunt Agatha 108 Letter to an Inland Lighthouse 109 The Minister in the Woods
485
487
488
110 The History of Snow and Restlessness 111 Altar Rock
499
112 Mothering
501
113 Chowder Swirls
505
114 The Birthing Room 115 The Leg
497
508
510
116 Christmas Eve
513
117 A Last Glimpse of the Pequod: Christmas Day 118 The Jeroboam Returns
516
519
119 The First Part of Ahab's Third Voyage After His Marriage 120 Moon Watch
529
121 Letter from Susan
533
122 The Samuel Enderby of London Puts in for Repairs at Nantucket 538 123 The Distress of Justice 124 To Siasconset
546
542
524
125 The Hedge
550
126 Journey Toward the Starry Sky, in Present Tense 127 'Sconset Morning
553
559
128 More of Morning: Tashtego's Feather Makes the Letter S 129 The Neighbor Beyond the Hedge 130 The Roar of Guilt
569
131 The Return of the Delight 132 The Perseid 133 The Woolsack
562
572
580 582
134 Letter from Margaret Fuller, from England 135 Letter from David Poland, Virginia 136 Letter to Beloved Kin
592
593
137 Letter from Margaret Fuller, from Italy 138 The Judge's Invitation 139 Mrs. Maynard's Note 140 Preparations 141 Frannie
596 597
598
599
142 Liberty and the Dolphins
611
594
589
560
143 A Suitable Marriage
615
144 What Has Proved to Be a Last Visit 145 A Song
618
146 A Squeeze of the Hand
620
147 Una Preaches to the Waves 148 The Great Fire: June 1846 149 Reflections on a Wreck
623 625
150 During the Pleasure Party 151 Celestial
629
636
152 A New Friend
637
153 A Sermon Overheard 154 Plans
622
641
647
155 Recitation by Beach Fire
649
156 Letter from Susan, Forwarded 157 The Roof Walk Epilogue
661
664
Acknowledgments
667
655
616
E-Book Extras An Interview With Sena Jeter Naslund: "The Ship of My Book" Author's Note: The Surprise and Pleasure of It Reading Group Guide: Discussion Points About Ahab's Wife or, The Star Gazer Praise for Sena Jeter Naslund's Ahab's Wife or, The Star-Gazer About the Author By Sena Jeter Naslund Credits Front Cover Copyright About the Publisher
Illustrations
Frontispiece
i
"The Crossing"
15
"The eagle was a flurry of feathers..." The Harbor of New Bedford "Aloft"
68
139
180
"He rose in the vertical, jaw agape..."
206
"All around us in the sea and the sky, there is a black glory we do not share." The Hold
285
"Ahab Addresses the flames" "Forest Murmurs" "The Comet"
357
428
481
The Roof Walk and the Starry Sky The Woodcarver's Studio
606
"You want me to kill 'em?"
659
557
223
One must take off her fear like clothing; One must travel at night; This is the seeking after God. —MAUREEN
MOREHEAD,
In a Yellow Room
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