New England in the late nineteenth century was home to a set of high-spirited and ambitious writers who were, for the first time, creating a distinctly American literature. From this close-knit literary society emerged Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne, who were known to be friends. In The Whale: A Love Story, novelist Mark Beauregard explores the boundaries of this friendship.
Through a nuanced reading of Melville’s real letters and other original sources, Beauregard offers the fictionalized story of two men who shared a deep, emotionally charged bond that may have transformed the writing—and meaning—of Moby-Dick. Scholars, academics, and essayists have written about Melville and Hawthorne’s relationship, trying to suss out what may have really happened between them.
Mark’s events:
Wednesday, June 22 @ 6:00PM / Talk, Q&A, and Signing
THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES
115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
Thursday, June 23 @ 4:00PM / Author-led tour of Herman Melville’s home
BERKSHIRE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT ARROWHEAD
780 Holmes Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Thursday, June 23 @ 7:00PM / Talk, Q&A, and Signing
THE BOOKSTORE
11 Housatonic St.
Lenox, MA 02140
Friday, June 24 @ 7:00PM / In Conversation with editor Carole Desanti, Q&A, and Signing
ODYSSEY BOOKSHOP
9 College St.
South Hadley, MA 01074
Saturday, June 25 @ 11AM / Talk, Q&A, and Signing
MARKETBLOCK BOOKS
290 River St.
Troy, NY 12180