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The Piazza Tales
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The Piazza Tales

short stories by Melville
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Quick Summary

The Piazza Tales is a collection of short stories by Herman Melville, published in 1856. The title story, "The Piazza," describes Melville's farmhouse and serves as a framing device for the other tales, which were supposedly narrated there.1

Key stories in the collection include:

  • "Bartleby the Scrivener": This story, published anonymously in 1853, features a Wall Street lawyer who hires a scrivener named Bartleby. Bartleby's increasing refusal to perform tasks, famously stating "I would prefer not to," leads to his self-neglect and death. The story reflects Melville's pessimism during a difficult period in his career.2
  • "Benito Cereno": Published in 1855, this chilling story is narrated by Captain Amasa Delano. He encounters a slave ship off the coast of Chile where the enslaved people have revolted. Delano eventually uncovers the truth and saves the ship's captain, while the insurrection leaders are killed. Like "Bartleby," "Benito Cereno" is characterized by its dark, powerful, and ambiguous tone.3
Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. The Piazza
  2. Bartleby the Scrivener
  3. Benito Cereno

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