Twenty years after its debut, the marathon drew a turnout that “in every measure exceeds previous years,’’ said James Russell, president and CEO of the museum.

NEW BEDFORD — Call them enthusiastic.

And those who spent more than 24 hours following the epic battle between man and whale could also be called exhausted.

“Moby-Dick’’ was read in its entirety Saturday through Sunday during the 20th anniversary of the Moby-Dick Marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The two-day reading of the book closely associated with New Bedford at the height of the whaling era began two decades ago as a small gathering and has grown into an international event.

Officials said 154 people, including nationally known authors, city officials and fans of the book, read segments of the book aloud. Nearly 200 people wanted to read but were unable to secure a spot.

About 20 people stayed for the entire marathon, which began at noon Saturday and ended about 1 p.m. Sunday.

Twenty years after its debut, the marathon drew a turnout that “in every measure exceeds previous years,’’ said James Russell, president and CEO of the museum.

Starting with perhaps the most famous opening line in American literature, “Call me Ishmael,’’ readers and listeners took a voyage with Capt. Ahab and his crew into the sea in search of Ahab’s nemesis, the great white whale, Moby-Dick.

The event ended with the book’s poignant last line, “And the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it rolled five thousand years ago.’’

The book continues to fascinate, Russell said. People love the “deep and rich and complex and often incomprehensible writing,’’ he said as the marathon drew to a close. “It’s a literary turbo boost to the new year.’’

Visitors from as far as Texas and California and the Netherlands, Canada, France and Germany came to New Bedford to hear the book read aloud.

Jamie Huntington-Meath traveled from Chapel Hill, N.C. to the marathon for “so many reasons,’’ he said. “I love the interaction, I love the book, I love the museum. It’s fascinating. It’s a whale of a tale.’’

Jessica A. Kent of Boston said she loves the book because “you can never get to the end of it.’’ She said new insights and details jump out with each reading. “There are always new things to learn,’’ she said. “It’s just an amazing story and an amazing experience.’’

Naomi Dolin-Aubertin read her segment before dawn Sunday. A few hours later, she listened to the readers while coloring a whale in the coloring book, “Lost Ocean.’’ “It’s very meditative,’’ she said. “It helps me focus on the words.’’

Those words continue to fascinate, Russell said, because the book reflects universal themes. Ahab’s zealous quest can be viewed from “a national stage, an international stage or on a very personal level,’’ he said.

Follow Sandy Quadros Bowles on Twitter at @SandyBowlesSCT