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Israel Potter
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Israel Potter

picaresque novel by Melville
Also known as: “Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile”
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History

Israel Potter, fictionalized story by Herman Melville of an American who fought in the War of Independence and of his subsequent struggles for survival. It was published serially in 1854–55 in Putnam’s Monthly Magazine and in 1855 in book form. This short picaresque novel was based on a historical Israel Potter, whose autobiographical narrative Melville had read. Israel Potter lived a life of adventure, serving bravely as a regular soldier in the American Revolution, during...

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