Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — An annual tradition in New Bedford is celebrating its 30th year.
Every year, thousands of people from New Bedford and beyond descend to the city's Whaling Museum for a 25-hour reading marathon of Moby Dick. The Herman Melville classic is a key part of the city's history and identity, and the Moby Dick marathon celebrates Melville's departure on the whaling ship Acushnet. Annelise Conway, the chief engagement officer at the museum, says readers embrace the classic novel.
"We have people who have just discovered the book, people who have been studying it for many years, and it's really a personal connection, and everybody has their individual adventure that they have found with Moby Dick," Conway explained.
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Conway is expecting over 3,000 people to attend altogether this year. For a book published in 1851, she says the story still resonates with new generations
"A lot of people who've been here for the previous 25, 20 years have said it's really exciting for them to see a younger group come in and fall in love with the book and Melville as well," Conway said.
The yearly tradition hosts different speakers who take turns reading sections of the book. Plus, people are invited to watch the live stream from countries all over the world.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.
