The 19th-century novel, "Moby" was written by Herman Melville, an American author born in New York in 1819. The book was first published in 1851 and tells the story of Captain Ahab's obsessive quest to hunt down and kill a giant white sperm whale named Moby. The novel has since become a classic of American literature and is known for its exploration of themes such as obsession, revenge, and the nature of evil. Despite initially receiving mixed reviews, the book has gained widespread critical acclaim over time and is now considered one of the greatest novels ever written.