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"This 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 Moby-Dick, this book traces his development as a writer while providing the basic tools for successful critical reading of his novels. Using the extraordinary "Agatha" correspondence with Nathaniel Hawthorne as a key to Melville's writing practices, beliefs, and inclinations, the volume introduces Melville as a writer who constantly reflected on his craft and experimented with new forms and genres." "Arranged chronologically, the volume focuses on Typee, Moby-Dick, and Billy Budd, as well as other novels, short fiction, and poems, to explore Melville's distinctive narrative style. A biography, summaries of key works, interpretation, commentary, and an extensive bibliography are all included."--Jacket Introduction -- Melville's Life -- "Agatha" and the Invention of Narrative -- Melville's Early Yarns -- "Making Literary Use of the Story": Typee and Omoo -- "A Regular Story Founded on Striking Incidents": Mardi, Redburn, and White-Jacket -- Writing New Gospel in Moby-Dick and Pierre -- "So Much of Pathos & So Much of Depth": Moby-Dick -- "All Tender Obligations": Pierre -- Turning a New Leaf: Short Fiction, Israel Potter, and The Confidence-Man -- "A Leaf from Professional Experience": Short Fiction of the 1850s -- "Peculiarly Latitudinarian Notions": Israel Potter and The Confidence-Man -- Melville's Later Career -- "Fulness & Veins & Beauty": Battle-Pieces and Clarel -- "Different Considerations": Late Poetry -- "Instinct with Significance": Billy Budd -- Afterword: "Restoring to You Your Own Property": Owning Melville -- Appendix: "Agatha" Correspondence.
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