Billy Bud and The Encantadas Author:Herman Melville Completed a few months before Melville's death, this carefully constructed tragedy was found amoung Melville's papers, but it was not published until 1924. Billy Budd is a narrative, a tragedy, and an allegory. It is also a man's testament on life. — The Encantadas, or Enchanted Isles, a book of ten sketches- all laid in the lonly Galapagos Isl... more »ands off the coast of Eucador- represents Herman Melville at his highest point of achievement as a writer. First published in The Piazza Tales, each sketch is a gem by itself. Compassion and wit mingle with anger as Melville presents his two major themes- the power of evil and man in isolation.« less