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Herman Melville - Biography

Melville was born on August 1, 1819 in New York, USA, into a family of wealthy merchants. His childhood was prosperous, but after the death of his father in 1832, the family faced financial difficulties. These events had a profound effect on the young and reflected in his late work.

In 1839, at the age of 20, Herman decided to start a new chapter in his life by subscribing to the merchant ship "St. Lawrence "(St. Lawrence) and setting sail in the southern seas. The sailor's experience and sea adventures were the inspiration for many of his future works. He also traveled on other vessels, including the balker Action (Acushnet), and spent a lot of time in the Pacific Ocean, visiting the Galapagos Islands and Tahiti.

The seafaring adventures and experience of the sailor inspired Herman Melville to launch a literary career. His first novel, Typee, based on his stay in Tahiti, was published in 1846 and was a success among readers. His second novel "Omu" (Omoo) was also associated with sea adventures and gained popularity.

However, the real literary masterpiece and peak of Herman Melville's work was the novel Moby-Dick, published in 1851. This work, which follows Captain Ahab and his white whale hunt, has become a cult book and one of the greatest novels in the history of American literature. "Moby Dick" raises philosophical questions about human nature, nature's power and human thirst for revenge.

After the publication of Moby Dick, Herman Melville began to write more experimental and less commercially successful works. His novels Pierre, or The Ambiguities and The Confidence-Man did not receive the same recognition as his earlier works. During this period, he was also involved in writing for newspapers and magazines.

Herman spent the remaining years of his life in relative anonymity and poverty. His literary influence began to manifest itself only decades after his death. He passed away on September 28, 1891 in New York City.