The exceptionalist state and the state of exception : Herman Melville's Billy Budd, sailor / William V. Spanos.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Spanos, William V.

Series:

Rethinking theory (Baltimore, Md.)

Rethinking theory

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891. Billy Budd.

Melville, Herman.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891--Political and social views.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891--Knowledge and learning--History.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891.

History.

Melville, Herman, 1819-1891--Knowledge and learning--United States.

Political and social views.

United States.

Imperialism in literature.

National characteristics, American, in literature.

Exceptionalism--United States.

Exceptionalism.

Literature and history--United States--History--19th century.

Literature and history.

Physical Description:

xvi, 210 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011.

Summary:

This critical literary analysis of Herman Melville's Billy Bud, Sailor examines the political implications of the work in the context of global empire and American exceptionalism. Contradicting the common view that this later work lacked the political depth of Melville's earlier writings, the author argues that Billy Bud represents a critique of the exceptionalist philosophy of the nineteenth century that produces relevant echoes today in light of the war on terrorism and the Bush administration's forays into unilateral imperial aggression. Spanos is a professor of comparative literature at the State University of New York, Binghamton. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

Late Melville and his historical occasion: prolegomenon to a re-reading of Billy Budd, sailor

Criticism of Billy Budd, sailor: a counterhistory

Billy Budd: a symptomatic reading

American exceptionalism and the state of exception after 9/11: Melville's proleptic witness.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780801898495

0801898498

OCLC:

614397325