I don't read books often in Skyrim (I mean, I don't play a video game to read), but one book I picked up due to it being cited often in the load screens and because it was conveniently on the way to Miraak in the last mission was The Guardian and the Traitor. It describes, very vaguely, how Miraak originally fell from power.

"The Traitor's [Miraak's] plot was discovered by one of his contemporaries, another Dragon Priest whom legend named The Guardian. The two fought a mighty battle that lasted for days, each hurling terrible arcane energies and thu'um shouts at the other.

So great and terrible were the forces unleashed in this contest that Solstheim was torn apart from the mainland of Skyrim. Here, the myth clearly descends into the realm of pure fantasy.

The Guardian, whom the legend presents as a paragon of loyalty and nobility, finally defeats the despicable Traitor, who seems to represent all that is corrupt and evil in men. Their epic duel is clearly representative of a greater struggle between good and evil. Perhaps it is this timeless quality that has kept the tale alive for so long.

Unlike many similar myths, the tale of the Guardian and the Traitor does not feature a suitably heroic ending. Herma-Mora snatches the Traitor away just as the Guardian is about to strike the killing blow."

Doesn't that sound familiar? It's basically a summary of the Main Quest.

You discover Miraak's plot to return to Solstheim and take over it (or was it all of Tamriel? I forget how far he planned to extend his power), fight him Dragonborn against Dragonborn (much like how here it is described as Dragon Priest against Dragon Priest), finally defeat Miraak, and then Hermaeus Mora kills him right before you're about to do the same.

Granted, the PC (the "Guardian" in this case) may not be the same paragon of loyalty and nobility, given the ability to join the Dark Brotherhood and Volkihar Vampires, it's still quite interesting.

There's a quest where you meet the "Guardian". His name is Vohlaak.

Is it me or was Miraak just a miserable failure in every way possible?

I thought the dlc would be about miraak, not herm.

How so?

This. Doesn't sound too familiar to me. Not getting the foreshadowing. But I really loved the quest involving the Guardian or the Jailer or Vohlaak depending on name preference.

Vahlok, I believe... or Vohlak.
No, it's Vahlok. Sorry, just making sure.

Anyway, yeah this post.
The Guardian and the Traitor is about Miraak's history and his original defeat.
Although, it's possible that the book is foreshadowing for the contents of Dragonborn, seeing as you do something similar; so it could be like "He was doomed to repeat it" kind of thing.