Omoo

Autobiographical novel. 'Omoo is so close a sequel to 'Typee,' that it almost forms a part of that work. Herman Melville's second book appeared in 1847, published (as its forerunner had been the year before) simultaneously in London and New York. In 'Omoo,' as Mr. Arthur Stedman says- 'We leave for the most part the dreamy pictures of island life, and find ourselves sharing the extremely realistic discomforts of a Sydney whaler in the early forties.' Both books are without a doubt largely autobiographical, and based on the writer's early sea-adventures, of which his voyage in the 'Acushnet' in 1841-2 was the most memorable.' According to Wikipedia: 'Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 - September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet. His first two books gained much attention, though they were not bestsellers, and his popularity declined precipitously after only a few years. By the time of his death he had been almost completely forgotten, but his longest novel, Moby-Dick - largely considered a failure during his lifetime, and most responsible for Melville's fall from favor with the reading public - was recognized in the 20th century as one of the chief literary masterpieces of both American and world literature.'