Introduction
Herman Melville (1819–1891) was an American novelist, essayist, and poet. His early novels were popular during his lifetime, but his popularity waned later in his life. His masterpiece, Moby-Dick, was considered a failure during his lifetime, but was “rediscovered” in the 20th century. The bulk of BYU’s Melville Collection was purchased from Tyrus Hillway, a Melville scholar formerly from the University of Colorado. However, BYU continues to actively collect works by and about Melville, including all editions of works by Melville as well as secondary works about him, including biographies and criticism.
Examples of Melville works owned by BYU include the following:
- Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851.
- Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1847.
- The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade. New York: Dix, Edwards & Co., 1857.