Melville’s life started out smooth sailing. He was born in 1819 to loving, doting parents. And they were wealthy to boot. His mother had a vast inheritance as did his merchant father. As years ticked by and the family grew, the Melvilles moved to a bigger house each year in New York City, and maintained two to four servants. The Melville parents enjoyed spending money. To them, it seemed their inheritances were never-ending.

But of course they did end. Eventually Mr. and Mrs. Melville’s respective families, cut them off for over-reaching. The whole family then had to grapple with near bankruptcy. The entire Melville clan, eight kids and two adults, moved to Albany to cut costs and Herman’s father entered the fur trade. 

Herman entered a new school in Albany but was pulled from it after only a few months. He was a fine student, but it’s likely that even the small fee for school was too much of a financial burden. Herman was disappointed and watched on as his two older brothers finished out the year. 

The next big storm to hit Herman’s life was at age 12. Mr. Melville was returning from a business trip by boat, but with below-freezing temperatures, waterways were frozen over. Instead of waiting for better conditions, Mr. Melville commandeered an open carriage to make the rest of the journey.  Mr. Melville arrived home with what would be a fatal cold. 

His father’s death meant Herman would have to find work. 

After working through his teens, Melville joined a whaling voyage as a crew member at about age 20. He was inspired by stories of sea-faring adventures and wanted to check it out for himself.  

Melville did not anticipate just how wild the ride would be. During his time at sea, he abandoned ship with a friend, participated in a mutiny, and eventually left whaling for the navy. He did not return to the continental US until 1844, burnt out from life on the water. 

No matter how much he abhorred his time spent at sea, his family loved hearing accounts of his life as a whaler. Encouraged, he began writing them down. 

It seems almost fitting that a few pieces of writing inspired Melville to begin a journey and then that his own journey inspired him to write.  Perhaps Melville could have saved himself from five years at sea if he had skipped ahead to just writing. But, certainly his work – both his prose and poetry – would be missing the depth of understanding of life at sea. 

Melville’s notable work includes Typee (his first novel and instant success), Redburn, Moby Dick (of course), Pierre, Clarel (an epic poem), and Billy Budd, in addition to short stories and poems. 

 

Herman Melville

 

The ribs and terrors in the whale, 

Arched over me a dismal gloom, 

While all God's sun-lit waves rolled by, 

And left me deepening down to doom. 

 

I saw the opening maw of hell, 

With endless pains and sorrows there; 

Which none but they that feel can tell— 

Oh, I was plunging to despair. 

 

In black distress, I called my God, 

When I could scarce believe him mine, 

He bowed his ear to my complaints— 

No more the whale did me confine. 

 

With speed he flew to my relief, 

As on a radiant dolphin borne; 

Awful, yet bright, as lightening shone 

The face of my Deliverer God. 

 

My song for ever shall record 

That terrible, that joyful hour; 

I give the glory to my God, 

His all the mercy and the power.