Billy Budd, Sailor and Other Uncompleted Writings

This volume is part of the Northwestern-Newberry Edition of the Writings of Herman Melville, a project initiated in the mid-20th century to establish definitive, scholarly texts of Melville's work. It specifically gathers Melville's final prose, most notably the novella Billy Budd, Sailor, which he left unfinished at the time of his death in 1891. The text seeks to clear away the editorial alterations that marred early 20th-century editions, returning the manuscript to the state closest to the author's original intentions.

The editorial team behind this edition, led by scholars like Harrison Hayford and Merton M. Sealts, Jr., utilized rigorous textual analysis to interpret Melville's heavily revised and cryptic handwritten pages. By presenting the work alongside other uncompleted writings, the volume provides a critical look at the final years of Melville’s career, framing his struggle with the manuscript as a fundamental piece of American literary history. It is highly regarded in academic circles for its comprehensive notes and commitment to textual fidelity.