Billy Budd.

Herman Melville.

Billy Budd.

Introduction by William Plomer. London:

John Lehman,

1946

The first separately published edition of the novella. The dust jacket designed by Keith Vaughn presents the text of the ìBilly in the Darbiesî poem on the back. Plomer, the British-South African novelist and editor, describes the ìfinishedî text as ìthe same as that of the Constable edition, but for a few small emendations, some of them Weaverís and some mine.î The introduction concludes that ìBilly Budd is true to the great heart of Melville: as his ëlast word,í so carefully wrought, it stands like a monument.î

From the Collection of William Palmer Johnston.