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Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile
Paperback
General FictionHistorical FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025753164
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 298
Weight: 0.93
Height: 0.62 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Israel Potter, His Fifty Years of Exile is a compelling historical novel by Herman Melville that recounts the extraordinary and often tragic life of a veteran of the American Revolution. Based on the true story of a real-life soldier, the narrative follows Israel Potter from the Battle of Bunker Hill through his capture by the British and his subsequent decades of wandering and hardship in England. Melville weaves a rich tapestry of adventure and survival, capturing the spirit of a man forgotten by the nation he fought to establish.
The novel is notable for its vivid depictions of historical figures, including Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones, and Ethan Allen, offering a unique perspective on the founding era of the United States. Through Potter's eyes, readers experience the chaos of naval warfare and the crushing weight of poverty and anonymity in a foreign land. Melville's prose explores themes of patriotism, identity, and the fickle nature of fame, transforming a simple soldier's memoir into a poignant meditation on the human condition.
As one of Melville's few forays into straightforward historical fiction, Israel Potter, His Fifty Years of Exile stands as a testament to his versatility as a writer and his deep interest in the American experience. This work remains a significant contribution to 19th-century literature, blending seafaring adventure with a sobering look at the cost of war and the bitterness of long-term exile.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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