Herman Melville

1. Herman Melville American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet

2. Biography of • Born in NYC on August 1, 1819 • Third child of Allan and Maria Melvill • When Allan Melvill died, Maria added an “e” to their last name • Grandson of Major Thomas Melvill, an honored survivor of the Boston Tea Party, and the subject of Oliver Wendell Holmes’s poem, “The Last Leaf”.

3. Education and Poverty • New York Male School, now known as Columbia Preparatory School • Melville’s father couldn’t afford NYMS, and moved his family to Albany to go into the fur business • Because of the strain of the War of 1812, Melville’s father had to declare bankruptcy • At the age of 12, Melville’s father died and left his family penniless • Ended up at Albany Academy

4. Acushnet • On January 3, 1841, he sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts on the whaler, Acushnet • Melville notes that his life began the day he set sail on Acushnet • Moby Dick tells many of Melville’s stories while on Acushnet • Melville deserted the Acushnet, and lived among Typee cannibals, which inspired the story, “Typee” • “Typee” had a hard time getting published, but once it did, it became an overnight sensation • Due to the popularity of “Typee”, he wrote the sequel “Omoo”

5. Marriages • Melville married Elizabeth Shaw, daughter of chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court • Their anniversary is August 4, 1847 • The couple honeymooned in Canada • They had four children • Purchased a farm house called Arrowhead

6. Melville’s BFF • While at Arrowhead, Melville befriended Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter • Hawthorne served as Melville’s only friend • Melville even went as far as dedicating Moby Dick to Hawthorne

7. HERMAN MELVILLE CRAZY • On September 8, 1852, The New York Day Book published the above headline and attacked Melville’s work • He was called a raving madman and deranged • Supposedly was placed under treatment for his mental illness and has his pen and paper taken away from him • Harper & Brothers stopped publishing his work

8. After Writing • He lectured on the South Seas • His wife got him a job as customs inspector for the city of New York, where he stayed for 19 years • He became known as the only honest man working in customs

9. His last shot • Melville’s last effort was a 16,000-line poem, entitled “Clarel” • “Clarel” is about his trip to the Holy Land • His uncle paid for the publication of the poem due to Melville’s pleas • Not only did the poem fail miserably, but the unsold copies were burned, because no one, including Melville, could and/or would buy it

10. Family Drama • He was in an unhappy marriage • He was a rumored to be an alcoholic, mentally ill, and a wife-beater • His oldest son shot himself and his second son died at a young age as well • He was severely depressed

11. Death • Before he died, he was working on a novella, but unfortunately, left it unfinished. • Literary scholar, Raymond Weaver, finished the novella and published on Melville’s behalf, posthumously • He died on September 28, 1891 due to cardiac dilation • He is buried in the Bronx

12. Moby Dick • A story of a sailor out to get revenge on a whale • Melville’s most famous work and thought to be one of the greatest literary works of all time • The book brought in minimal revenue ($556.37) • The original publication produced 3,000 copies, which a majority never sold