Inspired by real-life events, Melville's epic tale features a young sailor, Ishmael, who yearns for adventure aboard a whaling-ship. In Nantucket he signs up for a voyage aboard the Pequod, bound for the tropics. But what Ishmael believes will be an ordinary whale hunt turns out to be nothing less than a voyage of revenge led by the imposing 'ungodly, god-like' Captain Ahab. For Ahab has already lost one of his legs to the great White Whale, Moby-Dick, and this time - driven by a tremendous inner rage - he is determined to pursue him to the death.