Melville, Herman (1819-1891) - An American author who used his experiences
at sea as the basis for his writings. Melville received little literary
attention during his career, and it was not until thirty years after his
death that he began to be recognized as one of America's greatest writers.
Billy Budd (1924) - A posthumously published novella that is a study in
moral contrasts. It is the story of the sailor Billy Budd who is unjustly
antagonized and driven to an act of violence by Claggart, a ship's officer.
