Herman Melville Books

Bartleby, the Scrivener is a novella about the isolation and forced conformity of the modern work world. In flowery and sometimes humorous prose, the story tells the tale of Bartleby, an office worker who suffers from mental health issues and alienation. Although we don’t learn many details about the title character, we sympathize with his plight through the eyes of the unnamed narrator, Bartleby’s boss.

Moby Dick (1851) is an enduring classic of American literature. From the perspective of a boat hand named Ishmael, it tells the story of an ill-fated voyage aboard the Pequod, a whaling vessel. With humor and attention to the smallest detail, it explains how a crew came under the spell of the obsessed Captain Ahab, who had only one mission in life: to kill the giant white whale known as Moby Dick.

Billy Budd is a classic novel by Herman Melville that tells the story of a young sailor who is falsely accused of mutiny and sentenced to death. Set aboard a British naval ship during the Napoleonic Wars, the novel explores themes of innocence, justice, and the corrupting influence of power. It is a gripping tale that raises thought-provoking questions about morality and the nature of good and evil.

"Benito Cereno" is a gripping novella that tells the story of a Spanish ship captain, Benito Cereno, and his encounter with a mysterious slave rebellion on a merchant ship. Set in the 19th century, the book explores themes of power, race, and the complexities of human nature. With its suspenseful plot and thought-provoking themes, Herman Melville's work is a compelling exploration of the darker aspects of history and society.