Billy Budd

by Robert Chapman, Louis O. Coxe

A 3-act play based on Herman Melville's novel about life on board a British warship during the late 1700's

Genres: Plays

Paperback

Published January 1, 1984

About the author

Robert Chapman is an English philosopher, teacher and writer, best known for their work on neurodiversity studies and the philosophy of disability.

Reviews

[Daniel Kleven]

This is my third time through the story of Billy Budd: first, Melville's original (but the edition and notes were clunky and it was hard to get into); second, the 1962 film starring Terence Stamp (earning him his first Academy Award nomination) which I loved, and which presented the main themes in a really compelling way; and now third, this play by Coxe and Chapman, which the film was based on. There are some really compelling themes to consider, the nature of good and evil, the nature of duty versus mercy, and the nature of authority and war. This would make a fantastic study in a high school or college lit class, if anybody still reads Melville anymore.

[Kathy]

This is another book that I read w/ my son for his class at school. Otherwise, I'm not much of a play person. This play is based on Herman Melville's novel, Billy Budd. I liked Moby Dick, and eventually hoped to read this as well. This seems, to me, to be a watered-down version of a potentially good book. I didn't enjoy the play very much, but have to give credit to the classic tale of good vs. evil that Melville created.

[Mikael]

i just bought it because of moz and now im no longer celibate