Moby Dick (Moby-Dick, or, The Whale Moby-Dick or Sperm) is a novel by American writer Herman Melville published in 1851, whose title comes from the nickname given to a great white whale in the center of the plot. Melville, who was also sailor, like most of the heroes of his novels, is inspired by real events: Sperm whales continued all wore name. [Ref. needed] the sinking of the whaling ship Essex, which sank in 1820 after facing a large sperm whale 3,700 miles off the coast of South America. One of the surviving sailors, Owen Chase, consigned this adventure in a book which appeared in 1821. The existence of a white whale, in the 1830s, often seen near the Chilean island of Mocha. Riddled with harpoons, Mocha Dick regularly attacked whalers. But unlike the drama of Essex, no hint in the novel or in the correspondence of the author authenticates this reference, despite testing JN Reynolds called Mocha Dick or The White Whale of the Pacific (1838). Writing the book was begun in 1850 The novel was first published in London in October 1851 under the title The Whale (The Sperm) -. Edition was incomplete and that the title was not the one intended by Melville. It is shortly after, when its U.S. release in November of the same year, the book became known as Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (Moby-Dick or Sperm)
About the Author: Herman Melville was born on August 1, 1819 Pearl Street, southeast of Manhattan (New York), died September 28, 1891 in New York, is a novelist, essayist and American poet. Virtually forgotten by all until his death, was rediscovered Melville in the 1920s through his masterpiece Moby-Dick. It is now considered one of the greatest figures in American literature. The formative years Herman Melville is the third of eight children (and second son) Maria Gansevoort and Allan Melvill (without the "e"). Mother's side, his ancestors were of Dutch origin patricians (one of them, General Peter Gansevoort, a hero of the American Revolution). The paternal side is a line of Scottish traders. Allan's father, Major Thomas Melvill, also played a glorious role in the War of Independence. Allan Melvill matter of France "new" products. In 1826, the U.S. economy is entering a period of stagnation, and the father of the writer suffered the brunt of the British competition. His business périclitant, it must borrow more and more important to her stepfather, Peter Gansevoort, who becomes the financial support of the family. Between 1820 and 1830, the family moved three times before settling in 1830 near the Gansevoort, in Albany, the state capital of New York, where Allan Melvill working as an employee in a factory fur. During a trip to New York in December 1831, Allan Melvill, who tries to start a new business which it would be the boss, contracted pneumonia. He died January 28, 1832. Both seniors, Gansevoort (b. 1815) and Herman then leave the Albany college. The first, assisted by Uncle Peter, opens a trade in skins and furs that will improve for three years (at that time, he added an "e" to his name, the whole family gets). The second is thirteen years old, employed at the New York State Bank, whose uncle Peter is a director.