Herman Melville

The Profile

Herman Melville (1819–1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance, best known for Moby-Dick (1851) and Bartleby, the Scrivener (1853). His work was underappreciated during his lifetime and underwent a major critical revival in the early 20th century.

Author of Moby-Dick (1851) and Bartleby, the Scrivener (1853); themes include obsession, alienation, and biblical imagery. Initial reception was poor; his reputation was revived in the 1920s (notably via Raymond Weaver’s biography). Set pieces like the Pequod’s voyage and Bartleby’s Wall Street refusal are central to his legacy.

DeBaser’s reviews praise Melville’s Moby-Dick as a defining American novel and dissect Bartleby’s quiet rebellion on Wall Street. Ahab’s obsession, Ishmael’s biblical cadence, and Melville’s cetological deep dives recur. Reviews note Melville’s poor initial reception and later revival. Key themes: alienation, mystery, and the limits of human reason.