Billy Budd, Foretopman Audiobook By Herman Melville cover art

Billy Budd, Foretopman

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Billy Budd, Foretopman

By: Herman Melville
Narrated by: Frank Muller
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It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity. Claggatt sets about to entrap Billy in a charge of fomenting mutiny, and as events unfold - violently - Captain Vere is forced to mete out justice in a situation where the very nature of innocence is called into question.

Public Domain (P)1997 Recorded Books, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Sea Adventures Adventure

Editorial reviews

Among the greatest literary discoveries of all time, this story of handsome, budding young Billy Budd was found among Herman Melville’s meager possessions after his death, and was not published until 1924. Now an unquestioned classic, it is here performed admirably and in a polished American voice by Frank Muller.

Set on the high seas just after the Americans gained their independence, Billy Buddy, Foretopman is the story of an optimistic young innocent who is preyed upon by a jealous older seaman, and a Captain who must act as judge and diviner of truth. Like Melville’s Moby-Dick - but considerably shorter - this superb audiobook begins with a simple premise and veers into the rich, sin-dark seas of the great religious and moral questions of humankind.

Critic reviews

"Melville's late 19th-century masterpiece...draws us back to the late 1700s with the British Royal Navy fighting the French....Frank Muller's enunciation is crisp, his accent well suited to person and place, and his tones are most expressive." (Media Review)

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Contrasted with Moby Dick this book gives a fuller understanding that Herman Melville. I enjoy the homoerotic subtext in both books.

contrasted with Moby Dick it gives a fuller pictur

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The audio quality of this book is truly terrible. This may be a great book, but I will not be able to find out based on this very subpar recording. You've been warned.

Poor quality

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Story is ok but Frank makes it so much better. I could listen to a laundry list if read by Frank Muller

Frank Muller is the Greatest Narrator

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