Prime Minister's reading from Moby-Dick goes live

The Prime Minister was confirmed among the participants in the Moby-Dick Big Read just days before the ambitious project was launched at the Plymouth International Book Festival in September. He joined luminaries such as Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton in backing the project, which aims to introduce the 161-year-old novel to a new generation of fans. When his involvement in the project was confirmed, Mr Cameron said: “This is a really exciting project aimed at introducing this literary masterpiece to new audiences. I am particularly pleased to be able to contribute a chapter alongside so many people from the local community and wish all involved the very best in their efforts to make classic literature accessible to all. Mr Cameron has voiced Chapter 30 of the novel, titled The Pipe, and his recording goes live on the project’s website. The Moby-Dick Big Read has been two years in the making, and is the brainchild of the award-winning author Philip Hoare, artist-in-residence at Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, and acclaimed artist Angela Cockayne, from Bath Spa University. It is hosted by Peninsula Arts at Plymouth University, with the www.mobydickbigread.com website developed by the University’s i-DAT team, a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.