Hobbit actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry are two of the celebrities who are taking part in The Moby Dick Big Read, a project to help promote reading and Herman Melville’s classic novel to a new generation.
Since September 16, a new chapter has been posted to the project’s website every day. Fry, whose reading went live on September 26, joined stars like Tilda Swinton, David Attenborough, and David Cameron who each took one of the 135 chapters.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s recording of Chapter 58, Brit, went live today. Fans will hear his voice as the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, due out on December 13, 2013. Stephen Fry will play the corrupt Master of Laketown.
Award-winning author Dr Philip Hoare of the University of Plymouth has been working on this project for two years. He said, “I’m sure Herman Melville would be amazed at this extraordinary new interpretation of his thought-provoking and prophetic book.”
Below is a preview of Cumberbatch’s recording. For his full reading, and all of the readings thus far, visit MobyDickBigRead.com.
