Throughout American history, few authors have earned the right to be called great. Herman Melville is one of these few. However, Melville's journey to becoming one of America's greatest early authors was far from simple. As an author writing in the heart of the American Renaissance and Transcendentalist era, a time when people believed that humans were one with nature and God, Melville chose to break the mold. Facing many hardships in his life, Herman Melville became an author renowned for his anti-transcendentalist style, but was perhaps the most underrated author of his time. On August 1, 1819, Herman Melville was born into a family of war heroes and wealthy merchants. His father, Allan Melville, was a Boston merchant wealthy enough to provide a comfortable life for his family. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Allan Melville went bankrupt in 1830, forcing him to abandon the town and the Melville family. Herman Melville, now poor and fatherless, was left in the care of his stern mother, Maria Gansevoort. Having no formal education, Melville taught himself using literature and the Bible. (Anderson. “Herman” 294). Going from house to house, Melville now found that life was a struggle. Through this struggle, however, a fascination with the sea developed in him. Melville's fascination with the sea inspired him to begin the audacious challenge of becoming a sailor. Setting out on his first voyage with the St. Lawrence, Melville was ready for his seafaring dreams to come true. Instead, he encountered bad weather and a disorganized crew (“Herman” 590). As the St. Lawrence continued to recede, Melville's attraction to the sea also increased. Despite this harsh first experience, Melville decided to try sailing again. In January... middle of the paper... York: Bantam Books, 1967. Print. The University. From Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. 614-616. New York: Bantam Books, 1967. Print.Duyckinck, Evert. “Melville's Moby Dick; or the Whale. from The Literary World to Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. 607-613. New York: Bantam Books, 1967. Print. "Herman Melville: Biographical Note". To Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. 590-596. New York: Bantam Books, 1967. Print. Melville, Herman. Billy Budd and Typee. New York: Washington Square Press Inc., 1962. Print.Melville, Herman. "Letter to Hawthorne." 1851. In Anderson, Robert et al. Elements of literature. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1989. 317. Print.Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. New York: Bantam Books, 1967. Print. Melville, Herman. America. The literature network. nd Web. 06 December 2011. Melville, Herman. Shiloh. The literature network. nd Web. 06 December. 2011.