1-153-880 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Herman Melville, American author, 19th century. Melville (1819-1891) travelled extensively around the world by sea as a young man, experiences that he drew on in writing his novels, including his masterpiece, Moby Dick, published in 1851. Although achieving little acclaim during his lifetime, Melville has come to be regarded as one of the greatest figures in American literature.