NY, Harcourt, Brace, (1929). A biography of Melville by the historian and sociologist Mumford, who had argued for an American literary canon comprising Melville alongside Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Walt Whitman. Mumford was the prime mover in resuscitating Melville's reputation posthumously, and arguing, as this book does, that "[i]n depth of experience and insight... there is scarcely any one of the nineteenth century authors, with the exception of Dostoevsky, who can be placed beside him." Melville had died, penniless and ignored, in 1891. In 1924 the publication of his unfinished novella, Billy Budd, instigated the reconsideration of Melville's writings, culminating five years later with Mumford assigning him a place in the literary pantheon. This is a near fine copy in a very good, modestly rubbed and faded dust jacket with light edge wear. A nice copy of a pivotal book, uncommon in jacket. [#035301] SOLD