“An Alchemist of Words: Melville’s Use of Sources” July 29 10:30AM at Melville House in Lansingburgh, Troy NY
Noted Melville scholar, Mary K. Bercaw Edwards from the University of Connecticut, will speak at annual Melville birthday celebration in Lansingburgh on Saturday, July 29th. Her talk, entitled “An Alchemist of Words: Melville’s Use of Sources,” will be given at 10:30 AM. The Melville House will be open from 9:30 AM until 2:00 PM.
As Mary remarks, “Herman Melville consumed books and was consumed by them. He argued with them, laughed and cried over them, exulted in them, and became fiercely angry with them. His books are filled with notes and jottings done with slashing pen marks and furious periods. ‘What execrations! What hatred against the human race! What exultation and merriment at eternal sufferings!’ he once wrote. This talk will look at Melville’s use of written and oral sources in his works and how he transformed them into greatness. As a magician of words, Melville enriched his sources, recombining them with his own special vision to create something ever more enduring.” In addition newly uncovered information on Melville’s enigmatic short story, The Lightning-Rod Man, will be revealed at this time.
