Israel Potter
About this book
Melville's eighth book was begun as a simple rewrite of an obscure little narrative entitled Life and Remarkable Adventures of Israel R. Potter, in which Israel tells the story of his sad fall from Revolutionary hero to London peddler. Following its opening chapter Melville's novel retells that tale, with close adherence to the language and events of the Life, and then, shaking free of the original narrative, alternately moves between invented episodes and historical sources unrelated to the Life. Israel Potter is unique among Melville's books. It is the only one to be offered in the guise of literal biography, the tale presuming to offer an accurate life history of the man Israel Potter who did in fact fight at Bunker Hill. It is also Melville's only historical novel: it presents famous men of the American Revolution - Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones, Ethan Allen, and others - in situations that are a matter of historical record.
Reader Profile
3.5/5 · 458 readers · 241 pages · ≈ 4 h 28 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read Israel Potter?
About ≈ 4 h 28 m — 241 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Israel Potter?
241 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Israel Potter?
It sits on the Historical Fiction, History, Fiction shelves.
Is Israel Potter in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Who are the main characters in Israel Potter?
The main characters include Israel Potter (1744-1826?).
Where does Israel Potter take place?
It is set in United States, London (England), London(England) during Revolution, 1775-1783.
Who wrote Israel Potter?
Herman Melville.
Where can I read Israel Potter online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library