Herman Melville, página 8 de 34

Bartleby, el escribiente es una de las narraciones más originales y conmovedoras de la historia de la literatura. Melville escribió este relato a mediados del siglo xix, pero por él no parece haber pasado el tiempo. Nos cuenta la historia de un peculiar copista que trabaja en una oficina de Wall Street. Un dia, de repente, deja de escribir amparandose en su famosa formula: Preferiria no hacerlo. Nadie sabe de donde viene este escribiente, prefiere no decirlo, y su futuro es incierto pues prefiere no hacer nada que altere su situacion. El abogado, que es el narrador, no sabe como actuar ante esta rebeldia, pero al mismo tiempo se siente atraido por tan misteriosa actitud. Su compasion hacia el escribiente, un empleado que no cumple ninguna de sus ordenes, hace de este personaje un ser tan extraño como el propio Bartleby. El libro esta ilustrado por Javier Zabala, Premio Nacional de Ilustracion 2005.

Bartleby, el escribiente es una de las narraciones más extrañas de la historia de la literatura, y su protagonista uno de los más excéntricos especímenes de la raza humana, cuyo lúcido e implacable nihilismo recuerda las teorias chinas acerca de la conducta ideal del emperador y del hombre santo. Desde el mismo momento de su nacimiento, el relato de Herman Melville ha espoleado la polemica y ha generado el intenso interes que garantiza la inmortalidad de una obra literaria: la fascinacion. Bartleby, el escribiente es considerado hoy un precursor insolito de los mejores relatos de Kafka. En El campanario asistimos al tragico final de un personaje faustico, y en su trama se percibe la influencia de su amigo Nathaniel Hawthorne. Los dos templos consta en realidad de dos textos: el primero fue censurado en su dia para no herir la sensibilidad religiosa de los lectores; y el segundo, escrito en 1849 durante un viaje a Europa, describe Londres como una ciudad babilonica. En El hombre pararrayos brilla el talento ironico de Melville contra los abundantes predicadores que en aquella epoca vivian de propagar la salvacion ante un fin del mundo inminente.

"Muchos de los héroes melvilleanos temen y sufren la deriva universal de la masa de la humanidad hacia el más completo de los olvidos de la misma manera angustiosa que tratan de oponerse a ella. La propia deriva de Melville en su tiempo, incomprendido y escasamente valorado por el publico y la sociedad literaria, no auguraba el reconocimiento que le reservaria la posteridad. Desplazados, retirados, victimas de grandes mudanzas, sus personajes tratan de encontrar un sentido a la soledad que finalmente ha caido sobre sus vidas. En este volumen se recogen los Cuentos completos de Melville y el lector tendra ocasion de descubrir en el no solo las claves de una literatura inspiradisima, extemporanea y visionaria, sino tambien la apreciable deuda que la posteridad ha contraido, y quiza no saldado, con su autor, sin duda uno de los mayores precursores de las corrientes literarias del siglo xx. Leer a Melville es, aparte de entregarse a una de las mejores escrituras narrativas que se han dado, homenajear a un hombre que representa como pocos la fe en la literatura." J. M. Guelbenzu, Babelia.

Omoo: A Narrative of the South Seas (pronounced OH-moo) is Herman Melvilles sequel to Typee, and, as such, was also autobiographical. After leaving Nuku Hiva, the main character ships aboard a whaling vessel which makes its way to Tahiti, after which there is a mutiny and the majority of the crew are imprisoned on Tahiti. The book follows the actions of the narrator as he explores Tahiti and remarks on their customs and way of life. (from wikipedia.com)

Melvilles semi-autobiographical story of the life in the South Seas is based on his three-week stay on the Marquesa Islands where he was captivated by "the Savages." Typee was Melvilles literary breakthrough and one of the first novels about Polynesian life.

This novel, the last one that Melville wrote, is set on a Mississippi steamer on April Fools Day. A Young man, the devil in disguise, enters the steamer and during its voyage down the mighty river he starts confronting the passengers with their deepest fears and prejudices.

Pierre Glendinning is 19 years old and the heir of an old manor in the state of New York. Although already engaged to Lucy Tartan, he is more than thrilled when he meets his illegitimate half-sister Isabel Banford, a very mysterious person. He struggles on to find a solution to give her the proper share of the heritage without discrediting his fathers name.

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is a novel by Herman Melville, first published in 1851. It is considered to be one of the Great American Novels and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahabs boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge.

When Israel Potter leaves his plough to fight in the American Revolution, hes immediately thrown into the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he receives multiple wounds. However, this does not deter him, and after hearing a rousing speech by General George Washington, he volunteers for further duty, this time at sea, where more ill fortune awaits him. Israel is captured by the British Navy and taken to England. Yet, he makes his escape, and this triggers a series of extraordinary events and meetings with remarkable people. Along the way, Israel encounters King George III, who takes a liking to the Yankee rebel and shelters him in Kew Gardens; Benjamin Franklin, who presses Israel into service as a spy; John Paul Jones, who invites Israel to join his crew aboard The Ranger; and Ethan Allen, whom Israel attempts to free from a British prison. (from wikipedia.com)

Moby Dick narra la travesía del ballenero Pequod en la obsesiva persecución del capitán Ahab de un gran ballena blanca. Ismael, un joven marino mercante —y narrador de la obra—, decide embarcarse jun

Mardi is Melvilles first pure fiction work (while featuring fictional narrators, his previous novels were heavily autobiographical). It details (much like Typee and Omoo) the travelings of an American sailor who abandons his whaling vessel to explore the South Pacific. Unlike the first two, however, Mardi is highly philosophical and said to be the first work to show Melvilles true potential. The tale begins as a simple narrative, but quickly focuses upon discourse between the main characters and their interactions with the different symbolic countries they encounter. While not as cohesive or lengthy as Moby-Dick, it shares a similar writing style as well as many of the same themes. (from wikipedia.com)

Redburn is a semi-autobiographical novel concerning the sufferings of a refined youth among coarse and brutal sailors and the seedier areas of Liverpool. This theme of a youth confronted by realities and evils for which he is unprepared-or incorrectly prepared by both family and American institutions-is a prominent one in Melvilles works. (from wikipedia.com)

White-Jacket is a novel that perfectly reflects on the American naval life of the 19th century and is widely based on his own experiences when he sailed on the USS United States as a seaman.