Melville's Other Lives: Bodies on Trial in The Piazza Tales

Melville's Other Lives is the first book-length study on The Piazza Tales, exploring the rich and varied subject of embodiment in any published collection of Melville's stories. It focuses on the trials of the human body, its pain and trauma, struggles, and frustrations, and looks forward to the work of Michel Foucault and Raymond Williams.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 19 July 2022
Publisher: University of Virginia Press

Melville's Other Lives is a groundbreaking exploration of Herman Melville's renowned collection of short stories, The Piazza Tales. This book stands as the first comprehensive study of this collection and the first to delve into the diverse and intricate theme of embodiment in Melville's storytelling. Through the insightful analysis of Christopher Sten, it becomes evident that all the stories within The Piazza Tales revolve around encounters between established white male figures, including writers, lawyers, ship captains, homeowners, architects, world travelers, and characters who represent marginalized groups, such as seamstresses, office drudges, enslaved Africans, traveling salesmen, island castaways, and the impoverished.

Melville's primary focus in these tales is the profound examination of the human body, encompassing its experiences of pain, trauma, struggles, and frustrations. He delves into various common trials, such as illness or invalidism (The Piazza), the monotony of office work (Bartleby), and the annoyance of door-to-door salesmen (The Lightning-Rod Man). However, he also explores extraordinary trials that push the boundaries of human endurance, such as the traumatic violence of a rebellion on a slave ship (Benito Cereno), the hardships of survival on a wasteland archipelago (The Encantadas), and the dangers of creating a monstrous man-machine (The Bell-Tower).

In his narratives, Melville demonstrates a deep interest in the cultural meanings associated with these trials. He aligns his stories with the work of cultural materialists like Michel Foucault and Raymond Williams, who have illuminated how cultures define, control, and oppress bodies based on their perceived otherness. Melville harnesses our collective fascination with the human body as a subject, symbol, and vehicle to bring his tales to life, employing it as a powerful tool to convey his messages and engage his readers on a profound emotional level.

As a storyteller, Melville possessed a keen understanding of the cultural dynamics at play and skillfully exploited our collective obsession with the human body to enhance the dramatic impact of his stories. He skillfully crafted narratives that resonated with his readers, tapping into the universal human experiences of pain, vulnerability, and the quest for meaning. Through his exploration of embodiment, Melville offered a unique perspective on the human condition, challenging societal norms and pushing the boundaries of storytelling.

In conclusion, Melville's Other Lives is a seminal work that sheds new light on The Piazza Tales and the rich tapestry of embodiment in Melville's storytelling. Through the insightful analysis of Christopher Sten, it becomes evident that Melville's tales are not only captivating narratives but also profound explorations of the human condition. By delving into the trials of the human body, the cultural meanings associated with these trials, and the power of storytelling to convey profound emotions, Melville's Other Lives provides a valuable contribution to the study of literature and the human experience.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813945446