The Piazza Tales - Herman Melville

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Résumé :
The Piazza Tales is a collection of six short stories written by Herman Melville. The first story, The Piazza, is about a narrator who buys a house in the countryside and builds a piazza. He spends much of his time on the piazza, watching his neighbors and contemplating the mysteries of life. The second story, Bartleby, the Scrivener, is about a lawyer who hires a scrivener named Bartleby. Bartleby is a very strange man who eventually refuses to do any work, leading to his dismissal and tragic end. The third story, Benito Cereno, is a tale of a ship captain who is taken captive by his own slaves while on a voyage. The story explores themes of race and power. The fourth story, The Lightning-Rod Man, is about a man who sells lightning rods and claims that he can protect a house from lightning strikes. The story is a satire on the marketing tactics of the time. The fifth story, The Encantadas, is a series of ten sketches depicting the Gal?pagos Islands. Melville explores the history and natural beauty of the islands. The final story, The Bell-Tower, is about the construction of a bell-tower in a small town. The narrator becomes obsessed with the tower and the bell, and eventually commits a terrible crime. Overall, The Piazza Tales is a collection of diverse stories that explore themes of human nature, society, and the natural world.

Biographie:
Herman Melville was an American author born on 1 August 1819, in New York. His parents were Allan Melvill and Maria Melvill, Scottish and Dutch decent. He belonged to a reputated family, his father was a successful merchant and his grandfathers were regarded as revolutionary heroes. Unfortunately, Herman's father died in his childhood leaving the family into distress. His elder brother Granesevoort shouldered the responsibility of business and family. Herman got basic education in Albany Academy and Albany Classical School. His interest generated in classic literature and he began writing poems, essays and short stories. In his youth, he did several jobs, he began with teaching, got unhappiness. After that he joined a ship as a cabin boy and later went on a sea voyage as a harpooner. He continued writing and his first novel, Typee, based on sea adventure was published in 1846. Moby-Dick or the Whale is his master piece creation, got recognition after his death. He died of a heart attack in 1891, in New York. His literary works - Moby-Dick or the Whale, Bartleby the Scrivener, Billy Budd Sailor and Other Stories, Benito Cereno, Typee- A Peep at Polynesian Life, The Confidence-Man, Omoo-A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas, Redburn, Mardi, etc.