Ahab's Wife: Or, The Star-Gazer: A Novel

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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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