Herman Melville 
Clarel – Part I (of IV) 
"Art is the objectification of feeling"

Part I – (of IV) Jerusalem BY A SPONTANEOUS ACT, NOT VERY LONG AGO, MY KINSMAN, THE LATE PETER GANESEVOORT, OF ALBANY. N. Y., IN A PERSONAL INTERVIEW PROVIDED FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THIS POEM, KNOWN TO HIM BY REPORT, AS EXISTING IN MANUSCRIPT. JUSTLY AND AFFECTIONATELY THE PRINTED BOOK IS INSCRIBED IN HIS NAMEHerman Melville was born in New York City on August 1st, 1819, the third of eight children.At the age of 7 Melville contracted scarlet fever which was to permanently diminish his eyesight.At this time Melville was described as being "very backwards in speech and somewhat slow in comprehension."His father died when he was 12 leaving the family in very straitened times. Just 14 Melville took a job in a bank paying $150 a year that he obtained via his uncle, Peter Gansevoort, who was one of the directors of the New York State Bank.After a failed stint as a surveyor he signed on to go to sea and travelled across the Atlantic to Liverpool and then on further voyages to the Pacific on adventures which would soon become the architecture of his novels. Whilst travelling he joined a mutiny, was jailed, fell in love with a South Pacific beauty and became known as a figure of opposition to the coercion of native Hawaiians to the Christian religion.He drew from these experiences in his books Typee, Omoo, and White-Jacket. These were published as novels, the first initially in London in 1846.By 1851 his masterpiece, Moby Dick, was ready to be published. It is perhaps, and certainly at the time, one of the most ambitious novels ever written. However, it never sold out its initial print run of 3, 000 and Melville’s earnings on this masterpiece were a mere $556.37.In succeeding years his reputation waned and he found life increasingly difficult. His family was growing, now four children, and a stable income was essential.With his finances in a disappointing state Melville took the advice of friends that a change in career was called for. For many others public lecturing had proved very rewarding. From late 1857 to 1860, Melville embarked upon three lecture tours, where he spoke mainly on Roman statuary and sightseeing in Rome.In 1876 he was at last able to publish privately his 16, 000 line epic poem Clarel. It was to no avail. The book had an initial printing of 350 copies, but sales failed miserably.On December 31st, 1885 Melville was at last able to retire. His wife had inherited several small legacies and provide them with a reasonable income.Herman Melville, novelist, poet, short story writer and essayist, died at his home on September 28rh 1891 from cardiovascular disease.Index of Contents Part I – Jerusalem Canto I – The Hostel Canto II – Abdon Canto III – The Sepulchre Canto IV – Of the Crusaders Canto V – Clarel Canto VI – Tribes and Sects Canto VII – Beyond the Walls Canto VIII – The Votary Canto IX – Saint and Student Canto X – Rambles Canto XI – Lower Gihon Canto XII – Celio Canto XIII – The Arch Canto XIV – In the Glen Canto XV – Under the Minaret Canto XVI – The Wall of the Wail Canto XVII – Nathan Canto XVIII – Night Canto XIX – The Fulfillment Canto XX – Vale of Ashes Canto XXI – By Places Canto XXII – Hermitage Canto XXIII – The Close Canto XXIV – The Gibe Canto XXV – Huts Canto XXVI – The Gate of Zion Canto XXVII – Matron and Maid Canto XXVIII – Tomb and Fountain Canto XXIX – The Recluse Canto XXX – The Site of the Passion Canto XXXI – Rolfe Canto XXXII – Of Rama Canto XXXIII – By the Stone Canto XXXIV – The Tarry Canto XXXV – Arculf and Adamnan Canto XXXVI – The Tower Canto XXXVII – A Sketch Canto XXXVIII – The Sparrow Canto XXXIX – Clarel and Ruth Canto XL – The Mounds Canto XLI – On the Wall Canto XLII – Tidings Canto XLIII – A Procession Canto XLIV – The Start Herman Melville – A Short Biography Herman Melville – A Concise Bibliography