Bartleby and Benito Cereno

In this collection readers will find two of Herman Melville's most renowned shorter works, 'Bartleby: The Scrivener', and 'Benito Cereno'. The first story, 'Bartleby', was first serialized in two issues of 'Putnam's Magazine' in November and December of 1853. It concerns the office of a Wall Street lawyer who due to an increase in business hires a third scrivener named Bartleby to copy legal documents by hand. At first Bartleby proves to be a very productive worker but one day begins acting rather strangely. When asked to proofread a document he replies 'I would prefer not to', an answer he begins repeating perpetually in regards to all the tasks put to him. What follows for Bartleby is a tragic decline into apathy. The second story, 'Benito Cereno', first appeared in 'Putnam's Monthly' over three installments in 1855. It is the story on Don Benito Cereno, the captain of a Spanish Slavery ship, and the revolt that happens aboard his ship. Together 'Bartleby' and 'Benito Cereno' are widely regarded as two of Melville's finest compositions. This edition includes a biographical afterword.