Regarded as one of the greatest novellas ever written, Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener follows a nondescript law clerk, Bartleby, who takes a stand against the tyranny of modern life and makes an art form out of nonconformity in the process. A must-read for fans of classic American literature.
January 27, 2014
When the nameless narrator—an elderly Manhattan attorney—hired another scrivener named Bartleby, he hoped the new employee would have a positive effect on scriveners Nippers and Turkey. However, Bartleby’s curious tendencies and obstinate attitude plagued and confounded the narrator. Lackey turns in a workmanlike performance in this audio edition of Melville’s famous story. His emphasis and delivery will keep listeners engaged, and he lends distinctive voices to the characters. His rendering of Bartlebly’s famous repeated line, “I would prefer not to,” captures the matter-of-fact delivery emphasized in the text. However, Lackey’s voice sounds a bit too young for story’s narrator. Still, this is an enjoyable take on the classic tale.