Herman Melville

by Tyrus Hillway

Book by Tyrus Hillway

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1963

Reviews

[Mark Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor Hillway points out that "since Melville read so voraciously and borrowed so copiously, the burrowings of scholars will continue to unearth examples of his literary larceny for a good while to come". This 1979 publication is a concise and moving survey of the life and accomplishments of this great American writer, his fall into obscurity and subsequent revival. Personally I might have put somewhat more emphasis on Milton, Swift and Joseph Smith as influences on his work had his task been mine, but he certainly convinced me of the importance of Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus in the creation of Moby Dick. I have yet to finish reading Melville's surprisingly large poetical output (some of which remains unpublished to this day, if I'm not mistaken) so I'm not sure I can entirely accept his criticisms of it.

[Sheen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspectives on the life and times of the great writer.