Melville's short stories are masterpieces. The best are to be appreciated on more than one level and those presented here are rich with symbolism and spiritual depth. Set in 1797, Billy Budd, Foretopman exploits the tension of this period during the war between England and France to create a tale of satanic treachery, tragedy and great pathos that explores human relationships and the inherently ambiguous nature of man-made justice. Tales such as 'Bartleby', 'Benito Cereno', 'The Lightning Rod Man', 'The Tartarus of Maids' or 'I and My Chimney', show the timeless poetic power of Melville's writing as he consciously uses the disguise of allegory in various ways and to various ends. Other Stories include: 'Poor Man's Pudding' 'Rich Man's Crumbs' 'The Paradise of Bachelors' 'Benito Cereno' 'The Apple-Tree Table or Original Spiritual Manifestations' 'The Piazza' AUTHOR: The writing career of Herman Melville (1819 1891) peaked early, with his early novels, such as 'Typee' becoming best sellers. By the mid-1850s his popularity declined sharply, and by the time he died he had been largely forgotten. Yet in time his novel 'Moby Dick' came to be regarded as one of the finest works of American, and indeed world, literature, as was 'Billy Budd', which was not published until long after his death, in 1924.