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Billy Budd, Sailor Audiobook, by Herman Melville Play Audiobook Sample

Billy Budd, Sailor Audiobook

Billy Budd, Sailor Audiobook, by Herman Melville Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Frank Muller Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc. Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 1.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: January 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781440798047

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

5

Longest Chapter Length:

56:35 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:11 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

38:44 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

49

Other Audiobooks Written by Herman Melville: > View All...

Publisher Description

Critically acclaimed for more than 100 years, Herman Melville's sea tale, Billy Budd, is considered to be one of the small masterpieces of American fiction. An engaging plot on the surface, the exciting yarn set in 1791 also raises profound questions about the very nature of man himself. Handsome, young Billy Budd is well-liked by the other sailors aboard the British warship, the H.M.S. Indomitable. But the ship's cruel Master-at-Arms, insanely jealous of Billy's popularity, falsely accuses Billy of fomenting mutiny. Attempting to defend himself, the young sailor strikes out-only to find himself facing an even more serious charge. His years working on whaleships enabled Herman Melville to create realistic characters in authentic settings. The battle between good and evil, conscience and honor bursts from the page with Frank Muller's stirring narration.

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"Homoerotic to a glorious extreme, in 'Billy Budd' the titular character is constantly referred to as "The Handsome Sailor." It's easy to imagine Melville intending it as a device to indicate a role aboard the ship, that every ship has a "handsome sailor," the subject of lust and affection for the sex-starved men at sea. The gay history of maritime life is a long and substantive one, and this is really a very critical text in artistically representing it. I don't quite know how this text has ever NOT been interpreted as a queer work: the main plot follows everyone on the ship in love with Billy, and the ship's master-at-arms John Claggart's inexplicable rage at the boy. Claggart's also described frequently by his role, master-at-arms, one related to discipline and good social conduct, while Billy's suggests passion and indulgence in the finer things in life. It's quite easy to see the point Melville is making. Claggart's rage is a sort of sexual mania, his lust for Billy taken to a place of id-fueled sadism. So goes 'Billy Budd,' I won't spoil the plot but the progression is artful: the ship comes to a point of favoring law and justice over Billy's sensuality, as if we've witnessed an allegory of the gay men of the late nineteenth century. They toy with the sexual excesses and opportunities presented by a new world with a liberalizing moral order, but retreat back to the safety of heterosexual life, where it's safe. And though it's needless to say, Melville's prose is elegant and lovely to read."

— Sean (5 out of 5 stars)

Awards

  • A Crime Reads Pick of Legal Thrillers among the Classics

Billy Budd, Sailor Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.6666666666666665 out of 52.6666666666666665 out of 52.6666666666666665 out of 52.6666666666666665 out of 52.6666666666666665 out of 5 (2.67)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 8
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 5
1 Stars: 9
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Very descriptive and very melodramatic. It speaks to me in more ways than one but perhaps a second read is necessary. "

    — Siddhartha, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Hands down the worst book I have ever had the misfortune to read! It's only redeaming quality is that it is very short. It was agonizing and horrid. Boring, and difficult. "

    — Keeley, 1/24/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I like the Christ metaphor, but I found this one dry and hard to read. I had to force myself to get it read. "

    — Lady, 1/16/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Bagus sih, tapi kayaknya ada yang kurang pas rasanya...mungkin gaya tulisannya? "

    — Ivan, 1/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I thought this was hard to read but very interesting writing style! "

    — Gabriela, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " There is so much to this short work that I could go on for days talking about it. Great story, characters, symbolism, theme, etc. One of the best I have ever used in the classroom. "

    — Clif, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Tough going at the beginning, but as it's only 88 pages I was determined to persevere. It got easier, but still didn't really do it for me. It's more of a character study than a story. But not a very indepth character study. "

    — Hashi, 12/31/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I remember really liking this one in college. I had to read closely for clues to who the mutineer really was...a few images come to mind, but I remember really liking it. "

    — Julie, 12/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was really hard and confusing. There is a lot of symbolism, but I wasn't able to pick it up on my own. "

    — Emily, 12/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Most homoerotic required reading I've ever been faced with, as well a lovely example of an intrusive narrator who enjoys pleonasm. "

    — Ariel, 12/4/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book is so beautifully written. It is a Christ allegory that takes a little bit to get, but it's very powerful. "

    — Mehrsa, 11/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I am reading this book for my English honors class. Very good, great vocabulary. "

    — Tricia, 11/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I just read this last year- I don't know what I was waiting for. "

    — Kimberly, 9/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Easy read. Only read this because it was required for a class. But I'm not a Melville fan. "

    — Michelle, 10/5/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read in my "Jurisprudence and the Law" class with Professor Powers at UT Law. "

    — Versel, 9/24/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " before this Am Lit class, I hadn't read this text. once I assigned--and began hearing complaints from students about how hard it was--I doubted my intentions. but as I read it yesterday, chuckling as I did, I knew it was a good choice. I really do like Melville and this seems quintessential him. "

    — Becky, 5/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Well, it certainly does SUCK. "

    — Nicole, 1/22/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not the equal of Melville's masterpiece, but worth reading. "

    — Ross, 12/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An enjoyable parable, with Billy-as-Christ easy to see. But the prose if often far more difficult than needed. "

    — James, 11/25/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I had to rate this just three stars. Melville's language, although clear and distinct, is just so overdone. I used to think this was just an affectation of his times...but, having more recently read other authors of the era...or slightly afterwards...I realize that isn't necessarily so. "

    — Ed, 6/28/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This little book has intrigued me for years. There's much to think about here. "

    — Laurele, 4/29/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Well, it certainly does SUCK. "

    — Nicole, 4/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Emily was right. Booooo Billy Budd booooo "

    — Chelsea, 4/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " WTF did I just read. No clue what happened. Thank god the last chapter had a quick sum up of events. "

    — Kerri, 3/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Wish I could've given it a 3.5 "

    — Luke1992, 3/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Interesting Insites into navel history. <br/>library book sale. "

    — Jack, 3/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Reading Project Gutenberg, and too lazy to create a new book to prove it. "

    — Amy, 2/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book was left uncompleted at the time of Melville's death. It is not in the same league as Moby Dick. Melville was not particularly successful as a writer, and this book tends to show that. Perhaps he only had one truly great book in him. "

    — Jim, 2/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I laughed when there was a heated discussion in one episode of The Sopranos about this book. Not one of my favorites, but not terrible, either. "

    — Kevin, 2/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " a wonderful classic, i cried<br/>then i cried again in the movi3 version "

    — Gen50, 1/31/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The worst punishment I could imagine my hell to be is reading this book. "

    — Demosthenes, 1/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " if i could give it a lower score i would "

    — Katharine, 1/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Much more digestible than Moby Dick. "

    — Cheryl, 12/24/2010

About Herman Melville

Herman Melville (1819–1891) was born in New York City. Family hardships forced him to leave school for various occupations, including shipping as a cabin boy to Liverpool in 1839—a voyage that sparked his love for the sea. A shrewd social critic and philosopher in his fiction, he is considered an outstanding writer of the sea and a great stylist who mastered both realistic narrative and a rich, rhythmical prose. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumously published novella Billy Budd.

About Frank Muller

Frank Muller (1951–2008) was an Audie Award–winning narrator. A classically trained actor, Frank appeared on both television and the stage. His credits include Hamlet, The Crucible, The Taming of the Shrew, The Importance of Being Earnest, Law & Order, All My Children, and many, many more. In 1999 Frank was awarded the AudioFile Lifetime Achievement Award, the top honor in the audiobook community. He has also won twenty-three Earphones Awards.