Hershel Parker is emeritus professor aan de Universiteit van Delaware en een vooraanstaand kenner van Herman Melville. Zijn werk duikt diep in Melville's leven en geschriften, met bijzondere aandacht voor zijn ontwikkeling als dichter en de interne processen die zijn literaire genie vormden. Parker's nauwgezette onderzoek en analytische benadering onthullen nieuwe inzichten in een van Amerika's belangrijkste auteurs.
A Peep at Polynesian Life During a Four Months' Residence in a Valley of the Marquesas - Definitive and Uncensored
Set in the paradise of a South Sea island, "Typee" is a combination of fact and fiction. The tale is a distortion of the life of the Typees and foreshadows the metaphysical preoccupations in Melville's later work with its depiction of the evil and mystery lurking beneath the idyllic setting.
Chronicling Herman Melville's life from the peak of his career with Moby-Dick to his later years in obscurity, this biography reveals the struggles he faced, including harsh reviews and financial woes. It highlights his transition to magazine fiction, producing classics like "Bartleby" and "Benito Cereno," and his final works, including the epic poem Clarel and the story "Billy Budd." Through extensive research, Parker uncovers previously unknown episodes, solidifying his reputation as a premier Melville scholar and offering a nuanced portrait of the author’s complex legacy.