Not everyone can be famous while they're still alive. Some people aren't appreciated until after they're gone. 1 of 20 Herman Melville Herman Melville Shutterstock Everyone who goes through the United States school system hears about Moby-Dick at some point. It’s a classic, but it and its author, Herman Melville, weren’t appreciated in their time. Melville didn’t gain significant notoriety until he had been gone for at least 10 years. 2 of 20 Claude Monet Claude Monet Shutterstock Claude Monet is one of the most famous painters to have ever lived, but his work wasn’t celebrated while he...