A critical and historical analysis of Melville's The Encantadas

The purpose of this study is to examine the historical and. critical aspects of The Encantadas, Herman Melville's series of sketches about the Galapagos Islands. This study includes relevant features of Melville's life prior to the composition of the stories, as well as the facts relative to publication, the reputation It has enjoyed, sources of materials, an analysis of its structure and content, and reflections on the Author's ideas and philosophy. Since its publication in 1854, Herman Melville's The Encantadas has received little attention from critics or analysts. However, a careful examination of the sketches in the light of Melville's personal history and some of his other work reveals some interesting parallels. The mood of these stories apparently reflects the author's disillusioned, hopeless mood at the time they were written. [...]