Billy Budd, Sailor

Billy Budd, Sailor is a novella written by Herman Melville, left unfinished at his death and later published in 1924.

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the novel introduces us to a young 21 year old seaman named Billy Budd. He is forced to join a Royal Navy warship after the latest mutinies.

He is a strong, handsome young man taken off a merchant ship by a press gang, and he quickly wins over the crew — but not the master-at-arms, John Claggart, who hides his dislike behind perfect courtesy.

Claggart accuses him to the captain of plotting a mutiny. Captain Vere does not believe it, and calls the two of them into his cabin so that the charge can be made to Billy's face.

Billy, who stammers whenever he is under pressure, is unable to answer, and strikes out. The single blow kills Claggart, and Vere must decide what the law of a warship in wartime requires of him...

"In the time before steamships, or then more frequently than now, a stroller along the docks of any considerable sea-port would occasionally have his attention arrested by a group of bronzed mariners, man-of-war's men or merchant-sailors in holiday attire ashore on liberty."