A timeless story of refusal, resilience, and the human spirit. First appearing in 1853, it remains one of the most enigmatic and compelling works in American letters. In 1853, Herman Melville published a strange, slender story in Putnam’s Monthly Magazine. On the surface, it was about an unremarkable Wall Street law office and a quiet copyist named Bartleby. But then Bartleby began to say something no one expected: “I would prefer not to.” He said it politely. He said it without drama. He said it when asked to do work, and later, when asked to leave. This simple refusal rippled through the office like a crack in the walls — a crack the narrator, a mild-mannered lawyer, tried to patch with patience, charity, and eventually, indifference.
Our edition of Bartleby, the Scrivener is accompanied by stereograph images of 1865 Wall Street. These streets would have been familiar to Melville and this is the neighborhood in which Bartleby “prefered not to.” One plate shows the Custom House where Melville worked after his writing career had taken a turn for the worse. These images are printed letterpress as duotones — a particularly challenging process to achieve, yet our craftsmanship delivers images of exceptional beauty.
Originally published as the September 2025 dispatch
Herman Melville was one of America’s most original and adventurous literary voices. Born in New York City, he went to sea as a young man, drawing on his voyages to write early successes like Typee and Omoo. His great whaling epic Moby-Dick was misunderstood in its day, leading him to write short stories such as “Bartleby.” Above all, Melville was characterized by his incredibly complex and philosophical language, which included heavy biblical allusions and a blend of semi-autobiographical adventure with metaphysical exploration.
Melville was born in New York City to a family that was left in a dire financial situation after his father passed away. His mother sought comfort in her faith, leading Melville to adopt a deeply Calvin identity that influenced him and his writing for the rest of his life. Before his literary career, Melville worked to support his family as a school teacher and then as a “greenhand” on ships.
Herman Melville was one of America’s most original and adventurous literary voices. Born in New York City, he went to sea as a young man, drawing on his voyages to write early successes like Typee and Omoo. His great whaling epic Moby-Dick was misunderstood in its day, leading him to write short stories such as “Bartleby.” Above all, Melville was characterized by his incredibly complex and philosophical language, which included heavy biblical allusions and a blend of semi-autobiographical adventure with metaphysical exploration.
