First Students' Classics

 Herman Melville, born in NewYork City on August 1, 1819, ranks among America’s greatest authors. Melville was a novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet.

He wrote Moby-Dick, which was mostly considered a failure during his lifetime, but was later rediscovered as one of the masterpieces of world literature.

Melville’s father was a merchant from New England. His mother came from an old, New York Dutch family. Melville lived his first eleven years in New York City. In 1831, his father died after suffering a financial and mental breakdown, leaving his family in poverty. The family soon moved to Albany, New York.

Melville tried a variety of jobs between 1832 and 1841. In 1837, he sailed to Liverpool, England, as a cabin boy on a merchant ship. He described this trip in his novel Redburn. 

Melville returned to America and signed on as a seaman on the newly built whaling ship Acushnet for a trip in the Pacific Ocean.

Melville married Elizabeth Shaw on August 4, 1847. They resided in New York City, where Melville was associated as an instructor with New York University.

Melville wrote about his experiences so engagingly that he soon became one of the most popular writers of his time. The books that became particularly famous were Typee (1846); Omoo (1847); Mardi (1849); Redburn

(1849); and White-Jacket (1850).

In 1851, Melville produced his finest book, Moby-Dick. However, only a few critics recognised the genius of the work.

Herman Melville died in New York City on September 28, 1891, after prolonged illness.