Herman Melville

Herman Melville is one of the most celebrated authors in American literature, best known for his epic novel Moby-Dick. The novel, which saw modest success during Melville's lifetime, was recognized as a classic in the 20th Century and has been credited as an influence to authors such as Ernest Hemingway.

Melville's life was a fascinating one; born into a comfortable, middle-class family in New York City, Herman was the third of eight children. His mother passed away when he was twelve, resulting in his father sending him and his brother Gansevoort to a boarding school for a short time, then sending both of them to work in his mercantile business.

At eighteen, Herman set out to sea and spent the next four years as a merchant seaman, visiting places such as the Marquesas Islands, the White Sea, and Tahiti. Although this experience provided him vivid tales to tell and sold works such as Redburn and White-Jacket, it also forced him to witness the slave trade, massacres, brutality, and death. These experiences had a profound effect on his writing.

In 1847, Melville married Elizabeth Shaw and the couple moved to a farm in the Berkshires. While living there, he completed a collection of his works, Typee, which experienced massive success and propelled him to fame. After its release, he began to write and publish even more, including Moby-Dick, which he is best known for today.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a hit in Melville's own time; he eventually retired from writing, and spent the remainder of his life working in various customs jobs. It was only after his death that many of his works were recognized for their brilliance, and he is remembered today for lending life to his characters and for his various themes such as guilt, vengeance, greed, and racism.

The iconic works written by Herman Melville serve as a testament to his genius, as well as a reminder of the ever-changing world around us. Melville's characters are as vivid and relevant today as they were during the 19th century, creating a reminder of humanity's spirit and a portrait of American life. He is an author who, despite all of his personal struggles, remains one of literature's most sought-after voices.