Bartleby, the Scrivener
And Other Piazza Tales
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
Considered one of the greatest American writers, Herman Melville leaves the sea behind in this short story collection to write about Wall Street offices, the Galapagos Islands, a sinister architect, apathy, capitalism, and humanity's precarious nature. In "Bartleby, the Scrivener," a Manhattan lawyer struggles with a clerk who "prefers not" to do work or leave the office building. In "Benito Cereno," a captain stumbles upon a Spanish slave ship off the coast of Chile, whose captain has been overthrown in a revolt. The short story collection also includes "The Piazza," "The Lightning-Rod Man," "The Encantadas," and the "Bell-Tower." This is an unabridged version of the 1856 edition.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When the nameless narrator an elderly Manhattan attorney hired another scrivener named Bartleby, he hoped the new employee would have a positive effect on scriveners Nippers and Turkey. However, Bartleby's curious tendencies and obstinate attitude plagued and confounded the narrator. Lackey turns in a workmanlike performance in this audio edition of Melville's famous story. His emphasis and delivery will keep listeners engaged, and he lends distinctive voices to the characters. His rendering of Bartlebly's famous repeated line, "I would prefer not to," captures the matter-of-fact delivery emphasized in the text. However, Lackey's voice sounds a bit too young for story's narrator. Still, this is an enjoyable take on the classic tale.
