The short stories of Herman Melville are considered today to be among the small masterpieces of American fiction.
Billy Budd
, Melville's posthumously published novella, is a classic tale of innocence, evil, and murder that depicts the rivaly between a simple, handsome young sailor and a demonic superior.
Bartlebey
is the subtly comic tale of an apathetic scrivener, and
Benito Coreno
is the story of a Spanish sea captain caught up in a slave revolt on his ship.
Included in this volume are
The Piazza Tales
as well as "The Town-Ho's Story," a chapter from
MobyDick
. By turns haunting and comic, and always compelling, these fine stories convey the diversity and grandeur of Melville's talent as well as the depth of his themes.