Herman Melville is an outstanding American author who lived and wrote during the 19th century. He wrote MOBY DICK, one of the greatest novels in this history of all literature. Melville's writings blend fact with fiction and high adventure with powerful symbolism His personal experiences in far-off lands allowed Melville to bring a great sense of realism to his fiction. In A Student's Guide to Herman Melville, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio has provided a rich resource for understanding and appreciating the life and works of this literary giant.