Herman Melville (1819-1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet. He is best remembered for his novel Moby Dick. After skyrocket literary success in the late 1840s, his popularity declined in the mid-1850s and never recovered during his lifetime. When he died in 1891, he was almost completely forgotten. It was not until the early 20th century that his work won recognition, especially Moby Dick, which was hailed as one of the literary masterpieces of both American and world literature. He was the first writer to have his works collected and published by the Library of America. His poetry is not as highly regarded as his fiction, although some critics place him as the first modernist poet in the United States. Melville died at his home in New York City early in 1891, age 72. The doctor listed "cardiac dilation" on the death certificate.