Melville's early career

Herman Melville's early career involved working in various jobs to support himself and his family. He initially served aboard merchant ships, gaining firsthand experience of seafaring life that would later influence his writing. After his sailing adventures, he held positions in government and private industry, including managing a fishery and working as a customs inspector. These experiences contributed to his understanding of maritime and American life, laying the groundwork for his literary pursuits. Despite early financial struggles, his diverse work history provided rich material that shaped his later success as a novelist and literary figure.