The New Bedford Whaling Museum will mark its 20th marathon reading of Moby-Dick the weekend of 7–10 January. The reading will begin at noon on Saturday, 9 January and include more than 150 participants reading short passages from the novel; it will last 25 hours. Tie-in events include the opening of the exhibit Oásis by Nuno Sá, Portugal’s most awarded wildlife photographer, the dedication of the museum’s Herman Melville Room, a Moby-Dick-inspired dinner (a ticketed event), and a lecture. The exhibition Mapping Ahab’s “Storied Waves”: Whaling and the Geography of Moby-Dick will make its debut as well.

image: New Bedford Whaling Museum

Prior to the reading, the museum will test the Moby-Dick trivia mastery of Melville Society Cultural Project members with Stump the Scholars. Once the reading marathon begins, readings held around the museum will be interspersed with performances and music; and select passages will be read in languages other than English. The museum will also host an abridged reading for children, as well as an abridged one conducted in Portuguese.

For more information, visit the event website.