Bartleby, The Scrivener & The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids

"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is a short story by the American writer Herman Melville.

The story follows a Wall Street lawyer who hires a clerk, Bartleby, who initially works hard only to later refuse any tasks given to him, with the simple phrase, "I would prefer not to." While on the surface it may appear to be a story of one man's rebellion against his mundane job, Bartleby delves into deeper themes such as the alienation and depression of American labor and life.

"The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids" is a combination of two sketches, one set in the center of London's legal industry and the other in a New England paper factory, this story can be read as an early comment on globalization.