474 Herman Melville
The History of Literature
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Herman Melville in New York City
Herman Melville was the heir to famous patriots and proud of his heritage both his grandfathers were revolutionary war heroes. His mother's father general Peter Ganzavort had defended Fort Stanwicks against the British and was a friend of James Fenimore Cooper. Ishmael basically begins the book with this description of man in Manhattan sliding towards the sea like chest pawns on a tilted board. It's going to see is the substitute for blowing your brains out he suggests.
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