By Matt Thacker
With numerous plays, movies, songs and even a restaurant chain taking its name, Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” has become an American icon. Now U of L owns a rare first-edition copy of the classic.
U of L President James Ramsey unveiled the book on April 18 in the poetry room at the William F. Ekstrom Library, where he praised the school’s library system for both its acquisition of the book and its continued efforts to improve.
“The heart of every great university is its library,” Ramsey said. “We have a great library system at the University of Louisville … and we’re adding again today to that outstanding tradition.”
U of L’s library, ranked as one of the top 100 libraries in North America according to the Association of Research Libraries, obtained the book in the name of Flora Lee Sims Jeter. Jeter is the mother of U of L English professor Sena Naslund, who was named poet laureate of Kentucky earlier this year. The book was bought in part to honor Naslund, who played a big role in raising the $35,000 needed to purchase the book, Ramsey said.
In the novel, Ishmael, the lone survivor of the crew, narrates the story of Captain Ahab’s quest to hunt down the legendary sperm whale that took his leg. Naslund’s novel “Ahab’s Wife” tells the story of the Pequod captain’s wife during and after the journey.
“With Sena Naslund as poet laureate for the next two years, our university will have many opportunities to be highlighted,” Ramsey said. “This will enhance our academic reputation.”
While the poetry room was filled mostly with local media members and university officials, a few students were also able to attend the event.
“[Moby-Dick] really is a classic,” sophomore Justy Barnett said. “It’s part of our heritage, and I think it’s really neat that we now have it.”
Library officials had nothing but positive things to say about the library’s newest addition. Hannelore Rader, dean of University Libraries, called the event “amazing” while rare books curator Delinda Buie said it was a “red-letter day” for the university.
“It may not look like much, but be assured this is a very important edition to a very important novel,” Buie said, referencing the 154-year-old book’s plain cover.
The novel’s lack of early success, coupled with a warehouse fire in 1853 which destroyed all of the unsold books, means only an estimated 100 first-edition copies remain.
U of L’s Melville collection dates back to when William Ekstrom, a Melville expert, served as executive vice president. Rader called the copy “elusive,” saying the new book would be a significant addition to the library’s Melville collection.
Buie said any student wishing to see the book can visit Ekstrom’s rare books collection and ask a librarian for assistance. Anyone who touches the book must wear special gloves, she said.
The unveiling kicked off a series of events leading up to a celebration to mark the opening of the $14.2 million expansion at Ekstrom. The celebration, scheduled for the fall, will also commemorate Ekstrom’s two-millionth volume: “GOAT: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali.”
