Bartleby, the Scrivener
A Story of Wall-Street
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4.2 • 466 Ratings
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Publisher Description
"Bartleby the Scrivener" is one of the first great stories of corporate discontent. The emptiness of modern business life is an important theme. The narrator's initial self-characterization is important to the story. He is a "safe" man, one who takes few risks and tries above all to conform. The most pragmatic concerns of financial security and ease of life are his priorities.
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.
Customer Reviews
Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville brings to life a time in offices before computers and copying machines - when copying was done by clerks or scriveners. Such is Bartleby until the time arrives when Bartleby would "prefer not." The narrator's efforts to persuade Bartleby to prefer to do some work in the office to earn his salary earn our sympathy and our admiration for the narrator's tolerance, but Bartleby's quiet and passive resistance is stronger than entreaties of rationality or force and we see a strange bond develop between them. This is a tale that the reader will remember and the phrase "I would prefer not" may become a part of the reader's vocabulary.
Bartley the scrivener
Ah humanity! What a fun little read. It fairly burbles along.
I want to read MPR of Herman Melville’s books
I started read this do do need read more and boredom with the long Count of Monte Cristo. I became obsessed and could not stop until I finish reading it.
It is a great simple short story. Yet Melville’s description of the characters makes a come to real life.