Re-read "Bartleby" in preparation for Vila-Matas's novel. It is strange, how pure Melville made the character: as if he had models of intermediate levels of purity that he knew should be rejected. But how could he have had such models? ( )

I gave it three stars because it's pretty good - but - damn, Melville can be convoluted, long-winded, unnecessary and difficult to get into. Having said all that, I remember both the stories well so the writing must be good. It's obviously effective. In today's critical atmosphere, Melville would have been vilified for the stereotype of the "bad black guys" used in Benito Cereno. Today's critics love to pull things like that apart and an awful lot of them don't critique the storytelling; they slam the story vehicle. The book will remain in my collection of Dover Thrift Editions but I won't be seeking out copies of other Melville works unless they turn up in one of the Dover Thrift books or the Kings Treasuries of Literature. There are other authors I like much better and many of their works I still haven't read. ( )

After falling in love with Moby Dick last year, I decided that I would work slowly through the rest of his work. These stories are both beautifully written and engage the reader in dilemmas of the time.

The first story is an allegory about the capitalist exploitation of workers. Bartleby 'prefers not to' perform an increasing number of tasks in his occupation as a scrivener, and 'opts out' of society, paying the ultimate price.

The second story deals with the slave trade and oppression/heroism/racism. It reflects the vocation of Melville and his seafaring occupation. It is strangely unsettling to read the word 'Negro' used as a commonplace word and realize the strongly ingrained acceptance of racism and human domination in that era. It must be remembered that these stories were written over 150 years ago.

Heartily recommended for all you Melville lovers out there!! ( )

I had to read these stories for a class a few years ago and honestly can't remember a thing about them other than the fact that Bartleby was stubborn.