The authoritative edition of Melvilles only historical novel Based on the lifeof an actual soldier who claimed to have fought at Bunker Hill <strong>Israel Pott... » 

The authoritative edition of Melvilles only historical novel Based on the lifeof an actual soldier who claimed to have fought at Bunker Hill Israel Potteris unique among Herman Melvilles books a novel in the guise of a biography. Intelling the story of Israel Potters fall from Revolutionary War hero to peddleron the streets of London where he obtained a livelihood by crying Old Chairsto Mend Melville alternated between invented scenes and historical episodesgranting cameos to such famous men of the era as Benjamin Franklin Potter mayhave been his secret courier and John Paul Jones and providing a portrait ofthe American Revolution as the rollicking adventure and violent series ofevents that it really was. This edition of Israel Potter which reproducesthe definitive text includes selections from Potters autobiography Life andRemarkable Adventures of Israel R. Potter the basis for Melvilles novel. «