“A mesmerizing portrait… The hitherto hidden tale of these unconventional lovers is a deep and revelatory pleasure.” — Elle

“A proto-feminist woman of letters, impresario and poet in her own right, Morewood strikes us in Shelden’s account as a person of imagination and courage straining against the socially imposed constrictions of her time.” — The Washington Post

“A masterpiece. . . . He visually escorts the reader into the mindset and emotional life of one of the most renowned literary giants. Without a doubt this biography is capable of captivating generations of readers and writers[and] inspir[ing] them to pursue their own creative endeavors.” — New York Journal of Books

“Riveting in its incandescent sense of discovery, intimacy, and velocity, Shelden’s bound-to-be-controversial anatomy of a clandestine love transforms our perception of Melville and introduces “one of the great unsung figures in literary history.” — Booklist, Starred Review

“[Shelden] offers a provocative portrait of the canonical writer and his world.” — Kirkus

“Written with novelistic period detail and peopled with convincingly reanimated historical characters… The book is an engaging and creative recreation.” — Publishers Weekly

“Melville in Love is another masterwork by Shelden in the field of biography. Coupling diligent forensic scholarship with melodious narrative prose, he has discovered something new about an American author for whom the study of his life has turned into a minor industry of its own.” — Kenyon Review

“A scandalous surprise… Shelden carefully and convincingly presents his evidence regarding Morewood’s influence and how she inspired Melville to a greatness recognized by few of his peers… This well-paced, enjoyable read is a must for Melville fans.” — Library Journal

“MELVILLE IN LOVE is a beautifully written, captivating story that may also be one of the most surprising literary revelations of our time.” — BookPage

“Outstanding.” — Bookreporter

“Michael Shelden delivers the goods. . . . Now we can understand better the daring and the originality, the stylistic and thematic boldness of Moby-Dick: its writing was fueled and sustained by Melville’s passionate connection to a congenial sensibility.” — Sena Jeter Naslund, author of Ahab's Wife and Sherlock in Love

“Michael Shelden, with his skills as meticulous researcher, literary sleuth and inveterate storyteller surprises with a spellbinding, romantic tale of Melville and the Muse who aroused his passion and inspired his genius.” — Valerie Hemingway, author of Running with Bulls: My Life with the Hemingways

“Melville in Love is a masterful, riveting piece of literary and biographical detective work. Astute, compelling, and beautifully written, it gives us fascinating new insight into one of America’s greatest writers and the alchemy of his enduring art.” — Shelley Fisher Fishkin, author of Was Huck Black?: Mark Twain and African American Voices

“Engrossing, original, fast paced, and beautifully written, this is a book that deserves a place on the shelves of anyone interested in Melville and the art of literature.” — Bruce Cole, former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities

“It took the world decades to recognize Melvillle as a great writer. Thanks to Michael Shelden, we finally know Melville as a husband, father, son, friend, and lover. A brilliant and heart-breaking story.” — Eve LaPlante, author of Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother