Melville was born into a wealthy family in New York City but faced financial difficulties after his father's death. He married Elizabeth Shaw and had a close relationship with his siblings. Melville's education was interrupted by his father's death, but he showed promise as a student. He worked as a clerk and a school teacher before embarking on a voyage at sea, which inspired his first successful novels, "Typee" and "Omoo." Melville's later works, such as "Moby-Dick" and "Billy Budd," were not as well-received during his lifetime. He faced personal struggles and experienced a decline in popularity, but his works have since been recognized as significant contributions to American literature.
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