Unique among Melville's works, Israel Potter was the author's only historical novel, presuming to offer the life history of Revolutionary War figure Israel Potter--based on Potter's own obscure narrative Life and Remarkable Adventures of Israel R. Potter--and featuring characters such as Benjamin Franklin and Ethan Allen. In offering the manuscript to his publisher, Melville assured him, "I engage that the story shall contain nothing of any sort to shock the fastidious. There will be very little reflective writing in it; nothing weighty. It is adventure." This came as a relief, for his previous novel, Pierre, had shocked readers and brought down universal castigation.This edition is an Approved Text of the Center for Editions of American Authors (Modern Language Association of America).
- ISBN10 1426486537
- ISBN13 9781426486531
- Publish Date 11 October 2007 (first published 1 January 1982)
- Publish Status Unknown
- Publish Country US
- Imprint BiblioLife
- Edition Large type / large print edition
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 220
- Language English