Herman Melville was as separated from a civilized literature as the lost Atlantis was said to have been from the great peoples of the earth.

Summary

This quote suggests that Herman Melville, the American author of "Moby-Dick," was far removed from conventional or mainstream literature at the time. Just as the lost city of Atlantis was believed to have been isolated and distant from the rest of civilization, Melville's writing was seen as unconventional and detached from the popular literary tradition. The quote implies that Melville's work was unique and perhaps even ahead of its time, highlighting the author's departure from what was considered "civilized" literature during his era.

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