Order of Herman Melville Books

Herman Melville (1819-1891) was an American writer who rose to prominence in the 1840s, though his fame was fleeting, and by the time of his death, he was largely forgotten. He is most renowned for his novel Moby-Dick, which is widely regarded as a literary masterpiece. Interestingly, the book did not sell out its initial print run of 3,000 copies. It was not until the Melville Revival of the 1920s that he would posthumously regain recognition. Melville published his first work, the travelogue Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life, in 1846. He continued to write until 1866, when he took a position as a customs inspector for the City of New York, a role he held for 19 years and in which he was noted for his integrity. Below is a list of Herman Melville’s published works in the order of their original publication.