Herman Melville
Herman Melville (1819–1891) was an American sailor-turned-novelist whose Moby-Dick was ignored in his lifetime and later hailed as a masterpiece.
- Lived
- 1819–1891
- Nationality
- American
Herman Melville went to sea as a young man, including time on a whaling ship, and his early adventure books Typee and Omoo made him popular. Moby-Dick (1851) was a commercial disappointment, and he spent his later years working as a customs inspector in New York.
His reputation rose sharply in the 20th century. Other works include the short story Bartleby, the Scrivener and the novella Billy Budd, published after his death.
Books by this author
- Moby-Dick (1851)