Melville brought to the task a sound knowledge of actual whaling, much curious learning in the literature of the subject, and, above all, an imagination which worked with great power upon the facts of his own experience.

Summary

This quote emphasizes that the author Herman Melville possessed the necessary tools to write about whaling in his novel Moby-Dick. He had extensive knowledge and understanding of the actual practice of whaling, as well as a deep familiarity with the literature surrounding the topic. However, what set Melville apart was his powerful imagination, which allowed him to weave together his own personal experiences with the facts he had gathered, resulting in a rich and captivating narrative.