Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #314997 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-12
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Synopsis
By the American novelist, essayist and poet, widely esteemed as one of the most important figures in American literature and best remembered today for his masterpiece Moby-Dick (1851). His short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" (1856) is among his most important pieces, and has been considered a precursor to Existentialist and Absurdist literature.

Customer Reviews

One of the greatest joys to read ever written
This very accomplished short story is rightly regarded as being one of the very best ever written. It has a literary feel to it while being just a (fairly long but way short of novella length) short story. Written about the same time as Dickens' more famous short story (more of a novella) 'A Christmas Carol', this book also paints a picture of one man's humanity. But there the likeness ends, as this story is a complete departure from the literary norm of their day. It is oblique, not quite abstract, but is deliberately vague about the background and persona of its very unusual main character. There is no great plot here, unlike the afore mentioned story, it is merely an account by the narrator of a few weeks in his life when he had the acquaintance, at work, of a very queer fellow indeed. It won't enlighten you further as you find yourself desperate to find out more about this mystifying stranger but by the end you'd have realised there may not be anything more about him to know. He is such a thin, almost empty, ghost like character, but Bartleby must be one of the most deeply intriguing and captivating characters ever created, as far as I'm concerned. His sad demise is almost inevetible, but this produces the enormous pathos this book is noted for, as you can tangibly feel the narrator's contained, quiet despair at having lost such a gentle companion, and his regret for this harsh world not having room for people like Bartleby. This tiny little story is TRULY IMMENSE. Highly recommended to those who've not yet had the pleasure of reading this quiet masterpiece.