"Herman Melville's final masterpiece, found unpublished on his desk at his death. Billy Budd, Sailor would emerge, after its publication in 1924, as one of Melville's best-loved books--and one of his most open, with its discussion of homosexualty. In it, Melville returns to the sea to tell the story of Billy, a cheerful, hard working, and handsome young sailor, conscripted to work against his will on another ship, where he soon finds himself persecuted...

Young wig-maker Thomas Paine Kydd is impressed and forced to join the crew of a British battleship. He comes to admire the skills and courage of his fellow seamen. But can he accept the challenge himself to become a true sailor and defender of Britain?

Odessa has adapted well to life on her Colorado ranch, but nothing has prepared her for the devasatation that the winter of 1886 brings. In Paris, Moira discovers she has been robbed by her manager and has fewer options than she imagined. Meanwhile, Dominic, working the boxing rings of South America, loses the wrong fight and is shanghaied by a frustrated sea captain.