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Billy Budd

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About this listen

 Billy Budd, an orphaned, illegitimate child suffused with innocence, openness, and natural charisma, has been impressed into service aboard the HMS Bellipotent. He is adored by the crew, but for unexplained reasons arouses the antagonism of the ship's Master-at-Arms John Claggart, who falsely accuses Billy of conspiracy to mutiny.

Set in 1797, Herman Melville's Billy Budd exploits the tension of this period during the war between England and France to create a tale of satanic treachery, tragedy and great pathos that explores human relationships and the inherently ambiguous nature of man-made justice.

Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics

Critic reviews

" Billy Budd has excited the most admiration and commentary of any work by Melville except Moby-Dick. It has the translucence and the loose weave of last works. A lifetime sifts into it. Whenever Melville ventures onto shipboard, the reader feels the deck beneath his feet." (John Updike)
"In this last of Melville's works, published posthumously, the author dramatized the clash between natural goodness and innocence as personified by Billy Budd, and unprovoked evil as embodied in Claggart." ( Masterpieces of World Literature)
All stars
Most relevant
I found the verbose style of the story challenging- but the story itself very thought provoking, and on the whole well read (apart from some shaky ‘British’ accents in the direct speech).

Difficult but worth sticking with

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This is a must listen to.Excellent production and a fascinating story of life at sea for the poor sailor.

If you are a fan of Herman Melville...

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Who was your favorite character and why?

Billy Budd, he was so innocent and beautiful.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Enjoy is not a good word, but the scene with Billy, Captain Vere and Claggart was very strange and unsettling.I don't want to give away the plot so I will write no more.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't believe what you see.

Any additional comments?

The book is so short but it was somehow a very long read for me. I mean I had a few attempts. The book wasn't easy for me- very long sentences, a lot of unusual or marine vocab, but I finally succeded (with the help of printed book). As it happens with Melville, the book you read is not the whole story, there is a lot of hidden meaning for you to work out, and I must say that immidiately after finishing my listening I went online and found some very interesting essey, which helped me to understand the book. I love what this book has to offer, this is an exceptional read.

Difficult but rewarding read

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I could not suggest any more inappropriate narrator for this book. Not a bad narrator, just inappropriate to the story.

Very good book

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A good reading can have you spellbound. This reading of what is no doubt a social and historical source of information. Sadly is not.

Not for British listening

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