Herman Melville

Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) is an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet.

He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick.

His first three books gain much contemporary attention (the first, Typee, becomes a bestseller), but after a fast-blooming literary success in the late 1840s, his popularity declines precipitously in the mid-1850s and never recovers during his lifetime.

When he dies in 1891, he is almost completely forgotten.

It was not until the "Melville Revival" in the early 20th century that his work won recognition, especially Moby-Dick, which was hailed as one of the literary masterpieces of both American and world literature.

In 1919, the unfinished manuscript for his novella Billy Budd was discovered by his first biographer.

He published a version in 1924, which was quickly acclaimed by notable British critics as another masterpiece of Melville's.

He was the first writer to have his works collected and published by the Library of America.

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