The lightning-rod man

• Where and when was Herman Melville born?


  He was born in NYC in 1819.
• What happened to Melville’s father that affected the family?


  His father’s business failed, leading to debt and a mental breakdown, and he died shortly before Melville’s twelfth birthday.
• How did Melville’s experiences at sea influence his writing?


  His adventures as a sailor, including his time with the Typee in the Marquesas Islands, inspired novels like Typee and Omoo.
• What inspired Melville’s novel White Jacket?


  His experiences in the navy and a journey around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
• Why did Melville’s popularity decline after the publication of Moby-Dick?


  A: The book was complex and misunderstood by both readers and critics at the time.
• When did Melville start to gain recognition for his literary contributions?


  He gained recognition posthumously after a biography was published in 1921.