This unique introduction explores Herman Melville as he described himself in Billy Budd-"a writer whom few know." Moving beyond the recurring depiction of Melville as the famous author of <i>Moby-Dick</i>, this book traces his development as a writer while providing the basic tools for successful critical reading of his novels. <br /> <ul> <li style="list-style: none"><br /> </li> <li>Offers a brief introduction to Melville, covering all his major works<br /> </li> <li>Showcases Melville's writing process through his correspondence with Nathaniel Hawthorne<br /> </li> <li>Provides a clear sense of Melville's major themes and preoccupations<br /> </li> <li>Focuses on <i>Typee</i>, <i>Moby-Dick</i>, and <i>Billy Budd</i> in individual chapters<br /> </li> <li>Includes a biography, summary of key works, interpretation, commentary, and an extensive bibliography.</li> </ul>
