Author
Herman Melville
1819-1891
Herman Melville (1819-1891) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
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Books by Herman Melville
Moby Dick; Or, The Whale
"Moby Dick; Or, The Whale" by Herman Melville is an epic novel published in 1851. Sailor Ishmael narrates the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, who commands the whaling ship Pequod in pursuit of Moby Dick, a giant white sperm whale that destroyed his leg. Ahab's monomaniacal hunt for vengeance drives the ship and its diverse crew across the world's oceans, blending realistic whaling details with profound explorations of good, evil, fate, and human nature in this cornerstone of American literature.
Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street" by Herman Melville is a short story first published in 1853. A Wall Street lawyer hires a new copying clerk named Bartleby, who initially works diligently but soon begins refusing all tasks with the phrase "I would prefer not to." As Bartleby's passive resistance intensifies, the baffled narrator struggles to understand his enigmatic employee. This darkly compelling tale explores isolation, compassion, and the mystery of human behavior in an increasingly impersonal world.
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
"Moby-Dick; or, The Whale" by Herman Melville is an epic novel published in 1851. Sailor Ishmael narrates the obsessive quest of Captain Ahab, who commands the whaling ship Pequod in pursuit of Moby Dick, the white whale that destroyed his leg. Driven by vengeance, Ahab leads his diverse crew across the world's oceans, hunting the legendary creature. This tale of obsession explores themes of good and evil, fate, and humanity's struggle against nature's overwhelming power.
The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade
"The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1857. Set aboard a Mississippi River steamboat on April Fool's Day, the story follows mysterious figures who may be the same man in disguise. These confidence men manipulate passengers through fraud, persuasion, and philosophical conversation, exploiting trust and charity. Blending multiple genres and questioning the line between fiction and reality, Melville crafts a cynical satire about deception, faith, and American society.
The Piazza Tales
"The Piazza Tales" by Herman Melville is a collection of six short stories published in 1856. Originally appearing in Putnam's Monthly Magazine between 1853 and 1855, these tales include three of Melville's most celebrated works of short fiction: "Bartleby, the Scrivener," "Benito Cereno," and "The Encantadas." Written after the harsh reception of his novels "Moby-Dick" and "Pierre," this collection showcases Melville's mastery of the short story form during a difficult period in his literary career.
Redburn. His First Voyage Being the Sailor Boy Confessions and Reminiscences of the Son-Of-A-Gentleman in the Merchant Navy
"Redburn. His First Voyage" by Herman Melville is a semi-autobiographical novel published in 1849. It follows young Wellingborough Redburn, a gentleman's son who signs onto a merchant ship bound for Liverpool. Expecting respect, he instead faces brutal treatment as the lowest-ranking sailor aboard. He encounters tyrannical crewmates, witnesses devastating poverty in Liverpool's streets, and befriends a mysterious dandy whose secrets unfold during their return voyage. The novel chronicles a youth's harsh awakening to life's cruelties at sea and ashore.
White Jacket; Or, The World on a Man-of-War
"White-Jacket; Or, The World on a Man-of-War" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1850. Drawing from Melville's service aboard a U.S. Navy frigate, this work delivers a fierce critique of American naval life. The story follows a sailor whose homemade white jacket becomes both his identity and his curse, leading to near-fatal encounters at sea. Melville's graphic descriptions of flogging helped abolish the practice in the Navy, making this his most politically charged work and a precursor to "Moby-Dick."
Pierre; or The Ambiguities
"Pierre; or The Ambiguities" by Herman Melville is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The book explores themes of love, identity, and the complexities of relationships through the life of Pierre Glendinning, a young man navigating his feelings for Lucy Tartan, amidst societal expectations and personal desires. The story is set against an evocative backdrop of rural New England, highlighting the contrast between the beauty of nature and the inner turmoil of its characters. The opening of the novel presents a tranquil summer morning in the countryside, introducing Pierre as he emerges from his home, captivated by the natural beauty surrounding him. As he walks towards a nearby cottage, readers witness his blossoming affection for Lucy, who appears at the window, resulting in an intimate exchange filled with admiration and playful banter. Pierre is portrayed as a unique character, being the only son of an affluent widow, Mrs. Glendinning, and the narrative hints at a deep bond between them, which will later face challenges. The beginning lays the groundwork for Pierre's journey, emphasizing both his romantic inclinations and the complexities of his life, setting the stage for the unfolding narrative of love's trials and tribulations.
Typee: A Romance of the South Seas
"Typee: A Romance of the South Seas" by Herman Melville is a narrative published in 1846. Based on Melville's experiences in the Marquesas Islands in 1842, this account follows his time living among a Polynesian tribe rumored to be cannibals. The book made Melville famous as "the man who lived among the cannibals," though questions arose about how much was fact versus fiction. Blending travel memoir with cultural observation, Typee sympathetically portrays indigenous life while criticizing European colonizers and missionaries.
Billy Budd : $b and other prose pieces
"Billy Budd : and other prose pieces" by Herman Melville is a collection of prose pieces written in the late 19th century. Anchored by the short nautical novel Billy Budd, Foretopman, it centers on an innocent young sailor drawn into a moral conflict aboard a British warship during the age of mutiny, with the enigmatic master-at-arms John Claggart and the austere Captain Vere shaping his fate. Surrounding sketches and essays deepen Melville’s late-career preoccupations, but the signature tale probes innocence, authority, and latent malevolence at sea. The opening of the volume frames the title narrative: an editorial note and preface place the story in 1797 amid the Spithead and Nore mutinies, then introduce the archetype of the “Handsome Sailor” before focusing on Billy Budd, a foundling foretopman impressed from the merchantman Rights-of-Man into H.M.S. Indomitable. We meet Captain “Starry” Vere, an intellectual, self-contained commander, and the ship’s master-at-arms, John Claggart, whose covert antipathy toward Billy grows behind a courteous front. Early incidents show Billy’s natural goodness and naiveté—his effect as a peacemaker, his awe at shipboard discipline, and his failure to suspect malice—even as an old sailor (the Dansker) warns him that “Jemmy Legs” is “down on” him. Tension builds through small episodes: a soup-spilling scene with Claggart’s ambiguous compliment, petty harassments, and a secret nighttime approach by an afterguardsman hinting at a seditious “gang” and offering guineas—an overture Billy angrily rejects—while Claggart’s alternating smiles and hostile flashes suggest a deepening, mysterious enmity.
Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War
"Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War" by Herman Melville is a poetry collection published in 1866. This volume contains seventy-two poems chronicling the battles, personalities, and aftermath of the American Civil War, from John Brown's execution to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. The collection includes elegies and memorial verses, alongside a prose supplement where Melville advocates for reconciliation and thoughtful reconstruction. Initially met with mixed reviews and poor sales, the work has since been recognized as a significant contribution to Civil War literature.
Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Herman Melville
"Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Herman Melville" by Herman Melville is a comprehensive collection of literary works that includes novels, tales, and poems penned by the acclaimed American author during the mid to late 19th century. This volume not only serves as an index but also as a catalogue of Melville's diverse writings, which often grapple with themes of nature, humanity, and society. Known for his stylistic complexity and depth, Melville's works are considered foundational to American literature and often reflect the moral and existential dilemmas of his time. The content of this compilation features notable works such as "Moby-Dick," "Typee," and "Bartleby, the Scrivener," each exploring different narratives and perspectives. "Moby-Dick" tells the tale of Captain Ahab's obsessive quest for revenge against the titular whale, while "Typee" offers a vivid account of life among the Marquesans through a semi-autobiographical lens. "Bartleby" presents a poignant commentary on isolation and passive resistance in the modern workplace. Overall, this indexed collection provides readers with a valuable reference to Herman Melville's vast literary contributions, showcasing his rich storytelling and philosophical musings throughout various works.
Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas
"Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1847. The narrator escapes one Pacific island only to join a troubled Australian whaling ship bound for Tahiti. Alongside the eccentric ship's surgeon Dr. Long Ghost, he witnesses a crew mutiny that leads to imprisonment and island wandering. This sequel to "Typee" blends Melville's actual South Seas experiences with invented episodes and borrowed materials, creating an adventurous tale that hints at the powerful literary voice emerging in his work.
I and My Chimney
"I and My Chimney" by Herman Melville is a humorous essay written in the mid-19th century. This piece explores themes of domesticity and individuality through the relationship between the narrator and his old chimney, which he elevates to a position of prominence in the household. The narrative provides a whimsical perspective on architecture and the passage of time, focusing on the tension between the narrator's attachment to the chimney and his wife's desire to modernize their home. The story unfolds as the narrator recounts the inseparable bond he shares with his chimney, depicting it as both a literal and figurative centerpiece of their home. He describes the chimney’s imposing physicality and how its design dictates the layout of their household, often leading to humorous complications with his wife, who is determined to enhance their living space. As she seeks to renovate the home and eliminate the chimney, the narrator humorously defends its existence, even suggesting that it embodies character and history. The essay culminates in a reflection on the nature of change, the value of the familiar, and the conflict between old and new, ultimately revealing the narrator’s stubbornness in standing by his beloved chimney against his wife’s modernizing impulses.
Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 1 (of 2)
"Mardi: and a Voyage Thither" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1849. Melville's first purely fictional work begins as a South Pacific adventure when an American sailor abandons his whaling vessel. The narrative transforms unexpectedly—from escape story to romance when the narrator encounters a mysterious woman, then into a philosophical quest through an allegorical archipelago. As the woman vanishes, the search becomes a vehicle for exploring political structures, religious practices, and fundamental questions about truth, certainty, and existence itself.
The Apple-Tree Table, and Other Sketches
"The Apple-Tree Table, and Other Sketches" by Herman Melville is a collection of short stories written in the mid-19th century. The opening portion introduces readers to a peculiar apple-tree table with a storied past, enticing them into a blend of the supernatural and domestic life, as the main character navigates his fascination with this seemingly haunted piece of furniture. Melville's characteristic wit and philosophical musings come to life through the narrative, which revolves around the tensions created by the table's mysterious qualities. At the start of the book, the narrator recounts the discovery of the old apple-tree table in a dusty attic, igniting a mix of intrigue and discomfort. The protagonist's family, particularly his daughters, are unnerved by the table's cloven feet and its eerie origins, leading to humorous exchanges about superstition and domesticity. As tensions rise, a ticking sound is heard emanating from the table, stirring both curiosity and fear, eventually culminating in the discovery of a living insect emerging from it, providing a blend of comedy and the grotesque. This whimsical yet unsettling beginning sets the tone for the other sketches in the collection, which offer further explorations into the intersections of the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Typee
"Typee" by Herman Melville is a travel narrative published in 1846, based on the author's experiences in the Marquesas Islands in 1842. After deserting his ship, Melville lived among the Taipi people in a Polynesian valley, supposedly for four months. The book blends firsthand observation with imaginative reconstruction, offering sympathetic portraits of indigenous life while criticizing European colonizers and missionaries. Questions about the narrative's accuracy emerged immediately, though fellow castaway Richard Tobias Greene later corroborated key events. Melville's most popular work during his lifetime, it made him famous as "the man who lived among the cannibals."
Mardi, and a voyage thither, Vol. 2 (of 2)
"Mardi: and a Voyage Thither" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1849. Melville's first purely fictional work begins as a South Pacific adventure, transforms into a romance when the narrator encounters a mysterious woman named Yillah, then evolves into a philosophical quest after her sudden disappearance. The narrator and companions traverse symbolic islands, engaging in debates about politics, religion, and existence while searching for the vanished woman—though the quest gradually fades into profound discussions about truth, certainty, and human belief.
Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile
"Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile" by Herman Melville is a novel published in 1855. Based on a real Revolutionary War veteran's memoir, it follows Israel Potter from the Battle of Bunker Hill through capture by the British and escape to England. There he encounters King George III, Benjamin Franklin, John Paul Jones, and Ethan Allen in a series of adventures. Despite his patriotic valor, Israel remains exiled in London poverty for decades before finally returning home fifty years later to a changed America.
John Marr and Other Poems
"John Marr and Other Poems" by Herman Melville is a poetry collection published in 1888. Melville privately printed only twenty-five copies at his own expense for family and friends. The volume features nautical-themed poems exploring the lives of sailors and the sea, assembled during the same period Melville drafted "Billy Budd." The title poem follows an old sailor who leaves the ocean for prairie life, where he struggles to connect with religious pioneers who cannot relate to his seafaring stories.