Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American writer of the Renaissance period, best known for his novel Moby-Dick.
Born in New York City in 1819, he experienced financial hardship after his father's death.
Melville's early works, based on his sailing experiences, were successful, but his later, more ambitious novels were poorly received.
After Moby-Dick's commercial failure, he turned to poetry and worked as a customs inspector.
Melville's work gained recognition only after his death in 1891, with Moby-Dick eventually being hailed as a great American novel.
His other notable works include Typee, Billy Budd, and various short stories and poems.
