<p>In this collection readers will find two of Herman Melville&rsquo;s most renowned shorter works, &ldquo;Bartleby: The Scrivener&rdquo;, and &ldquo;Benito Cereno&rdquo;. The first story, &ldquo;Bartleby&rdquo;, was first serialized in two issues of &ldquo;Putnam&rsquo;s Magazine&rdquo; in November and December of 1853. It concerns the office of a Wall Street lawyer who due to an increase in business hires a third scrivener named Bartleby to copy legal documents by hand. At first Bartleby proves to be a very productive worker but one day begins acting rather strangely. When asked to proofread a document he replies &ldquo;I would prefer not to&rdquo;, an answer he begins repeating perpetually in regards to all the tasks put to him. What follows for Bartleby is a tragic decline into apathy. The second story, &ldquo;Benito Cereno&rdquo;, first appeared in &ldquo;Putnam&rsquo;s Monthly&rdquo; over three installments in 1855. It is the story on Don Benito Cereno, the captain of a Spanish Slavery ship, and the revolt that happens aboard his ship. Together &ldquo;Bartleby&rdquo; and &ldquo;Benito Cereno&rdquo; are widely regarded as two of Melville&rsquo;s finest compositions. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.</p>