Books with title Billy Budd

Melvilles last work, it is a brilliant study of conflicts between social authority and individual freedom, human righteousness and evil. It is the story of a naive young man who is accused of a crime he has not committed. Melville has wonderfully portrayed the agony and helplessness of a young spirit against social injustice. Noteworthy for its infinite interpretations it arrests the readers interest.

Aboard the warship Bellipotent, the young orphan Billy Budd was called the handsome sailor. Billy was tall, athletic, nobel looking; he was friendly, innocent, helpful and ever-cheerful. He was a fierce fighter and a loyal friend. All the men and officers liked him... All but one: Master-at-Arms Claggart. Envious, petty Claggart plotted to make Billy's life miserable. But when a fear of mutinies swept through the fleet, Claggart realized he could do more than just torment the Handsome Sailor...He could frame Billy Budd for treason...

they have the same compelling and mysterious power, defying ultimate interpretation. the selection includes "bartleby", "the enchanted", "benito cereno" (dramatized by robert lowell) and one of melville's supreme masterpieces, "billy budd, sailor". harold beaver's introduction and notes will aid the reader's understanding and enjoyment of one of the most allusive and book-haunted of all writers, 'now recognized as a giant among american men of letters', equal in his own sphere to the greatest of his european contemporaries.