Herman Melville (1819--91), one of the writers constituting the bedrock of early American literature, enjoyed popularity early in his career. Yet he died almost unknown, despite a legacy that includes the classic novels Moby-Dick and The Confidence-Man, and novellas such as Billy Budd, Sailor and the present volume. He lived and died in New York, having traveled widely aboard whaling ships as a young man
Melville stands unique in English Literature. THE NEW YORK TIMES