Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick. His first three books gained much contemporary attention (the first, Typee, became a bestseller), but after a fast-blooming literary success in the late 1840s, his popularity declined precipitously in the mid-1850s and never recovered during his lifetime.
When he died in 1891, he was 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.
Read more about Herman Melville: Later Works, Publications and Contemporary Reactions, Legacy, Selected Bibliography, References and Further Reading
Famous quotes by herman melville:
“If a drunkard in a sober fit is the dullest of mortals, an enthusiast in a reason-fit is not the most lively.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“What is an atheist, but one who does not, or will not, see in the universe a ruling principle of love; and what a misanthrope, but one who does not, or will not, see in man a ruling principle of kindness?”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“Pyramids still loom before me—something vast, indefinite, incomprehensible, and awful.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“A whale-ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“Thus—thanks to the world!—are there many spies in the world’s camp, who are mistaken for strolling simpletons.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)