The “Moby Dick” Marathon returns to the Hamptons this weekend. Live readings of the iconic Herman Melville novel will start on Friday June 12th, and will continue through Sunday June 14th. Readings will be held at various locations throughout Sag Harbor Village.
The readings kickoff on Friday at Canio’s Books (290 Main Street, Sag Harbor) from 12 to 3 p.m., followed by a reading at the Sag Harbor Whaling & Historical Museum (200 Main Street, Sag Harbor) from 3 to 6 p.m., and they return to Canio’s Books for a final Friday reading from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday starts off at Bay Street Theater (1 Bay Street, Sag Habor) at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then head to the John Jermain Memorial Library (201 Main Street, Sag Harbor) from 1 to 4 p.m., make a stop at the Old Whalers’ Church (44 Union Street, Sag Harbor) from 4 to 7 p.m., and the Saturday readings culminate at Canio’s Books, from 7 to 10 p.m. The final reading on Sunday is at Eastville Community Historical Society (139 Hampton Street, Sag Harbor) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The weekend marathon culminates with an after party at Canio’s Books, starting at 2 p.m.
Sag Harbor is mentioned several times throughout “Moby Dick,” including specific references to the East End whaling industry. In 1983, Canio Pavone started the Marathon to pay tribute Sag Harbor’s seafaring history and literary traditions. The annual event took place for several years at the bookshop, during the 1990s, and then it was held at the Whaling Museum for a few more years, and then the literary celebration moved to the John Jermain Memorial Library in the early 2000s. This year, the event is part of Sag Harbor’s celebration in honor of the 375th anniversary of the Town of Southampton. 2015 also marks another milestone celebration, Canio’s Books 35th anniversary.
For more information visit www.sagharborwhalingmuseum.org or caniosbooks.com.