A Concise Biography.
Features: DVD
Born to a once-prominent New York family, Herman Melville grew up in an atmosphere of financial instability. He tried several jobs to help the family including work as a bank clerk, a teacher, and in the merchant marine. The latter became the background for many of his greater works including Redburn and Moby-Dick. Melville, who had only been sporadically educated, improved his repertoire as an author throughout his career, increasing use of symbolic levels of meaning in his novels, short stories, and poems. This program explores his life and major works.
"...not only presents a factual outline of the writers lives, but also conveys a clear visual picture of the social and historical background to their writing." The Good Book Guide
Editor's Note
Best known for "Moby Dick: or, The Whale" and "Billy Budd Sailor," scrivener Herman Melville led a life almost as adventurous as his works. This record of his life resembles a travelogue.
Plot Summary
"Famous Authors" examines the men and women behind the words that brought them literary kudos.| In "Herman Melville," viewers learn how the cynical wordsmith was reared in an economically tight environment. Melville worked as a merchant marine to support his family and used his experiences to pen the mammoth "Moby Dick." He also wrote short stories, poetry and novellas including "Bartleby, The Scrivener" and "Billy Budd."| However, as Melville's star rose, so ironically did his pessimism. This negative trait alienated some readers. Only following his death did such disaffected audiences come to appreciate his excellence.
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