Reviews

Billy Budd, Sailor by Herman Melville

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agmaynard's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

4.0

Read this slowly, at a chapter a day, and it made a positive difference, along with other recent Melville reading, and outstanding reading company. My high school memory was chiefly frustration at passive Billy. Now I see the clear set up for inevitability: it could go no other way. Also in high school, I only had a rudimentary sense of unreliable narrators. Anyway, highly recommended!

ahalsnad's review against another edition

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2.0

The story was straightforward, but the writing was a little cumbersome for me. Sometimes the underlying reasons for descriptions of certain things were hard to understand. The characters are simple in their vices and virtues that set the course for future events. The story is full of jealousy, politics, and following the law reaching up to the climax. If only Billy Budd had controlled his burst of emotions with actions! An important lesson to keep in mind, for sure.

I loved a couple of paragraphs that were beautiful that stopped me in the tracks.

"Well, though many an arraigned mortal has in hopes of mitigated penalty pleaded guilty to horrible actions, did ever anybody seriously confess to envy? Something there is in it universally felt to be more shameful than even felonious crime. And not only does everybody disown it, but the better sort are inclined to incredulity when it is in earnest imputed to an intelligent man. But since its lodgement is in the heart not the brain, no degree of intellect supplies a guarantee against it."

"Forty years after a battle it is easy for a non-combatant to reason about how it ought to have been fought. It is another thing personally and under fire to direct the fighting while involved in the obscuring smoke of it. Much so with respect to other emergencies involving considerations both practical and moral, and when it is imperative promptly to act. The greater the fog the more it imperils the steamer, and speed is put on tho' at the hazard of running somebody down. Little ween the snug card-players in the cabin of the responsibilities of the sleepless man on the bridge."

bertwagner's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An exploration of diverse characters and a moral quandary on an 18th century warship. All told in beautiful English prose.

kellyrenea's review against another edition

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5.0

Definitely one of the great classics. Had no idea that Melville wasn’t able to finish it before his death. Such a thought provoking story. Is it more important to follow the letter of the law or to take into account all mitigating circumstances. Don’t miss this short but classic read.