On This Day October 18

Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick was first published as The Whale by Richard Bentley of London in October 18, 1851. Moby-Dick is now considered by some as the greatest contribution of American letters to world literature. However, after a run of successful seafaring tales, this was the first flop for ex-cabin boy Herman Melville. The centennial of Melville's birth in 1919 became the starting point of a revival of his work, as. critics discovered his major novels and stories, including Moby-Dick.

Title page of the first edition of Moby-Dick, 1851

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