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While Moby Dick is Herman Melville’s best known book Billy Budd Sailor is considered by many to be his greatest work.
Billy a foundling from Bristol has an innocence good looks and a natural charisma that make him popular with the crew. His only physical defect is a stutter which grows worse when under intense emotion. He arouses the antagonism of the ship’s master-at-arms John Claggart. Claggart while not unattractive seems somehow defective or abnormal next to Billy.
Despite Claggart’s animosity towards him Billy saves Claggart’s life further infuriating the man. Claggart then accuses Billy of conspiring to mutiny. Billy dumfounded by the accusation becomes unable to defend himself against Claggart’s words because of his stuttering and in frustration strikes the lying Claggart with a blow so powerful that it kills the man instantly.
In the ensuing trial Melville explores good and evil justices and mercy right and wrong and natural law verses man’s law.
A Masterpiece for the Ages!
Über den Autor / die Autorin
Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819 to a once-wealthy family. After his father's death left them impoverished, Melville went to sea, drawing inspiration from his experiences for later works. His time aboard the whaling ship Acushnet inspired Typee, a semi-autobiographical novel about his adventures.By the mid-1800s, Melville aimed to create more ambitious works. His most famous novel, Moby Dick (1851), explored themes of nature and obsession but initially failed commercially. Other works like Pierre also struggled to find success.Later, Melville turned to poetry and worked as a customs inspector in New York. His poems, like Battle Pieces, examined themes of war and America. Only in the 20th century was his literary genius fully recognized, with Moby Dick now hailed as one of America's greatest novels.
