Herman Melville (Critical Survey of Long Fiction)

Other Literary Forms

After the financial failures of Moby Dick and Pierre, Herman Melville, as if turning a new corner in his literary career, began a series of short stories. Published between 1853 and 1856, either in a collection (The Piazza Tales, 1856) or individually in journals such as Putnam’s Monthly Magazine and Harper’s Monthly magazine, the tales present an enigmatic addition to Melville’s artistry. Melville had difficulty with the short forms, and he seemed unable to work out the plot and characters in the space required. His...

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