Herman Melville was the writer of one of the most renowned of classic American novels: Moby-Dick, published in 1851. He wrote several other books and collections of poetry, including Typee, Omoo and Billy Budd, but it is largely upon the story of the great whale that his estimable reputation rests. Ironically, Herman Melville, while initially a popular novelist, fell out of favor with the public by the 1850s, and it was not until the 1920s that his works were revived and re-appreciated. Melville struggled with financial issues for most of his life – for instance, his entire earnings from Moby-Dick amounted to a little over $500. He also was never really settled in his mind as to whether or not there was an afterlife, but if there is one, and he’s in it, he must be dancing a jig!
