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The Early Life Of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick

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While Moby-Dick may be considered a classic today, it was one of Herman Melville’s worst-selling novels during his lifetime. Melville wrote much about life at sea, especially aboard whaling ships. His first novels became immensely popular, but what many see as his signature work did not bring Herman any respect or merit. Though Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and following novels sold poorly during his lifetime, he is one of the staples of American literature.
The early life of Herman Melville starts on August 1, 1819.Born in New York, New York Herman Melville’s original name was actually spelled without the “e” at the end of his last name. He was born Herman Melvill. Herman’s mother, Maria, added the “e” to the end after her husband, Allan, died …show more content…

However, he was heavily borrowing money so he could start a fur trading company. So, after Allan’s death, the Melville family had major financial struggles. Herman’s oldest brother, Gansevoort, took over the family's fur and cap business in New York after his father's passing. Herman Melville clerked at a bank to help make some extra money. In the 1830s, he enrolled at the Albany Academy and Albany Classical School. Melville studied classic literature, and he began writing poems, essays and short stories. In 1837, Herman left Albany because of a job as a teacher in Massachusetts, but he did not see the career fulfilling. Melville then returned home to New York (Herman Melville …show more content…

The wild journey that awaited him sparked his literary career. When Melville arrived in the Marquesas Islands of Polynesia in 1842, he and one crewmate deserted the ship. They were soon captured by cannibals. Melville was treated well; and he escaped after four months on board another whaling ship, the Lucy Ann. After helping the crew in a mutiny, he was jailed on the ship. Herman eventually wound up in Hawaii. He caught a ride back to Massachusetts on the USS United States. Melville arrived home three years after he had left (Herman Melville

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