Author
Herman Melville
Herman Melville went to sea as a young man and turned what he saw into Moby-Dick. The book puzzled readers at first. Today it is one of the most famous novels in the world.
- Born
- 1 August 1819, New York City
- Died
- 28 September 1891, New York City
- Best known for
- Moby-Dick (1851)
- Other jobs
- Sailor, teacher, lecturer and customs inspector
Life in brief
Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819. After his father died, the family struggled for money. Melville worked as a clerk and a teacher, then went to sea: first on a merchant ship in 1839, and in 1841 on the whaler Acushnet.
He left the Acushnet in the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. His first book, Typee (1846), told a lively version of his time there and was a success. Moby-Dick came out in 1851, but readers and critics were confused by it, and his later books sold poorly.
From 1866 Melville worked as a customs inspector in New York City for 19 years, writing poetry on the side. When he died in 1891 he was almost forgotten. Interest returned around the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1919, and his unfinished novella Billy Budd was published in 1924.
Main works
| Book | Published |
|---|---|
| Typee | 1846 |
| Omoo | 1847 |
| Moby-Dick | 1851 |
| Bartleby, the Scrivener | 1853, short story |
| Billy Budd, Sailor | published 1924, after his death |
Why read Herman Melville today
- Nobody writes about the sea and ships quite like him.
- Moby-Dick mixes adventure, humour and deep questions.
- Short works like Bartleby are a quick way into his style.
Where to start
Start with our Moby-Dick summary, then read the book with it beside you. For something short, try Bartleby, the Scrivener.
On Bibliocity
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Frequently asked questions
Was Herman Melville a whaler?
Yes. He sailed on the whaling ship Acushnet in 1841 and drew on that time for Moby-Dick.
Was Moby-Dick a success when it came out?
No. It sold poorly and many critics were confused by it. Its fame grew decades after Melville’s death.
What job did Melville have later in life?
He was a customs inspector for New York City for 19 years, from 1866.
Explore more
- Moby-Dick in shortHerman Melville, 1851
- Jane Austen1775 to 1817
- Mary Shelley1797 to 1851
- F. Scott Fitzgerald1896 to 1940
- Classic books to readA starter list
- Famous book quotesExact quotes from classic novels
Sources
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Published 2026-10-27. Last checked 2026-10-27.