It’s so good. I honestly can’t believe how readable Melville’s prose is even today. I have the penguin classic edition that has notes for references and allusions that I’ll have to read after every chapter, but the overall story and characters feel incredibly fresh.
nowhere near enough are forced to read Melville's "Benito Cereno" - an almost Star Trek-style story of a slave rebellion - ending with a disdainful look at Americans who never look deeply at the world or into themselves
Understrapper of the wicked is the sort of perfect insult that gives me great sorrow because I know that when I should use it I will not have the presence of mind to remember it.
The comma:word ratio is impressive. Using em like they're going out of style, which, I suppose, they were.
Sick burn regardless. (Or perhaps even moreso because of them?)
