American writer Herman Melville was born #OTD in 1819.
Melville's first two books, "Typee" (1846) and "Omoo" (1847), were based on his adventures in the South Seas and were quite popular. These semi-autobiographical novels painted a romanticized view of life among the Pacific Islanders. Published in 1851, "Moby-Dick" is considered Melville's masterpiece. Initially, the book was not well-received, and its complex structure and themes puzzled readers and critics alike.
Edited 51d ago