Herman Melville | Brief Biography
Herman Melville | Brief Biography
Herman Melville was a highly acclaimed American writer and poet, born on August 1, 1819, in New York City. He is best known for his novel “Moby-Dick,” which is considered one of the greatest American novels of all time.
Melville’s family was well-educated and had connections to prominent New England families, but his father died when Melville was just 12 years old, and his family struggled financially. After a brief stint at a boarding school, Melville left to work a series of odd jobs, including as a clerk and a teacher.
In 1839, Melville signed on as a crew member on a whaling ship, the Acushnet, which would inspire much of his writing, including “Moby-Dick.” He sailed on several whaling voyages and visited various ports in the South Pacific, including the Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, and the Society Islands. These experiences shaped Melville’s outlook on life and his views on humanity, and he would later incorporate them into his writing.
In 1844, Melville’s first book, “Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life,” was published, based on his experiences in the South Pacific. The book was a success and was followed by “Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas” in 1847. These works established Melville as a popular writer and adventurer.
In 1851, Melville published “Moby-Dick,” which was initially well-received but later struggled commercially. Despite its lack of success, the book is now considered a classic of American literature and a masterpiece of American Romanticism.
After the publication of “Moby-Dick,” Melville struggled both personally and professionally. He married and had children, but his writing career was in decline, and he was unable to support his family through his writing. He turned to lecturing and writing poetry, but his work received little recognition during his lifetime.
Herman Melville died on September 28, 1891, in New York City, largely forgotten and unrecognized as the great writer he was. However, in the decades following his death, his work was rediscovered and he became recognized as one of the most important American writers of the 19th century.
Today, Melville’s writing continues to be widely read and studied, and his works, including “Moby-Dick,” “Typee,” and “Omoo,” are considered some of the greatest works of American literature. He is remembered as a master of adventure, a keen observer of human nature, and a writer who captured the American spirit with vivid descriptions of life at sea and in the South Pacific. 0 0 0.
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book ‘Introduction to Men of Letters‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
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