Billy Budd, Bartleby, and Other Stories (Penguin Classics Edition)

I remember having to read Billy Budd as a high school student many decades ago and not really enjoying the experience. At that point, we were assigned this novel, rather than Moby Dick, I'm sure because it was so much shorter. Coming back to Billy Budd in my 60s, I found myself really drawn into this epic confrontation of moral purity and moral corruption.In fact, I even went back and watched the Peter Ustinov and Terence Stamp classic film, based on the novel, which I can also recommend:  Billy Budd What I want to say in this review is that: In selecting a new version of the novel to read, I spent a lot of time looking over various versions available to me. And I'm very pleased with this edition and its supplements. If you're similarly searching around Amazon for a good edition, you'll do very well with this Penguin Classics edition. Because these reviews sometimes migrate to other pages for other versions of the same book, I'll specify here that I'm talking about the edition listed as ASIN: B00Y9HIMLY

I read this book when I was a freshman and it felt like the writing was not easy to understand so I had to go back and read it 3 times to finally understand it. But, that aside, I learned a lot from it so I cannot complain, just wish it had been easier. Thanks regardless.

First read the great Melville in high school. Has always stayed with me. I am now 67.

You get everything Melville one needs in this volume. Bartleby, Benito Cereno, and Billy Budd, plus others. I love this edition and Melville proves to be one of our best writers in its passages.

The text was legible, with a fine introduction and notes. I took Bartleby the Scrivener to my book group and appreciated the insights gained from rereading and discussing.

Contains Benito Cereno among the "other stories," thus including perhaps the two works of Melville most in the minds of contemporary scholars, on issues of gender studies, ethnic studies, queer studies, etc. But mostly, what amazing writing!

Was extremely hard for me to get through for class. The way this one was writen is very difficult to understand had to go back and read it three times before I got fed up and just rented the movie.

Worth reading fora boarder understanding of the author of Moby Dick. Well bound - good Penguin product.

Bought this as a Christmas present and the literary recipient was pleased.

Excellent

...de leer!

Good as new on delivery. I bought for’Bartlebury’ which I saw as a TV movie with Paul Scofield, many years ago. A Radio 4 book programme revealed the source, set 100 years earlier in America, and with in interest in American culture & literature, and the addition of Billy Budd & other tales this was a must buy.