Today's the Day - 18th October

Herman Melville

On this day in 1851, The Whale by Herman Melville was published in Britain in 3 volumes. Later to become the story of Moby-Dick, it was published in just a single volume in the USA approx. 3 weeks later.

The novel was a commercial failure and out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891, but during the 20th century, its reputation as a “Great American Novel” was established.

The English edition had an initial print of only 500 copies – significantly fewer than his other books while only 3,200 copies of the novel were sold during Melville’s lifetime.

Birthdays and anniversaries on this day:

Erin (or is it Joanie?)

Legendary American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry was born in 1926.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated of US President John F Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Erin Moran, who played the part of Joanie Cunningham in the 1970’s TV smash hit Happy Days, celebrates her 56^th birthday today.