A shipping record has emerged showing Moby Dick author Herman Melville signing up for a whaling voyage across the Pacific which would inspire him to write the American classic. Melville, then just 21 years old, is featured on a list of crew members for the Acushnet whaling vessel, which launched from New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1841. The entry includes physical characteristics of the young Melville, who was living in nearby Fairhaven before the launch. Shipping record: Melville's name (highlighted) was entered on the crew's list for a whaling vessel set to sail the Pacific, inspiring the tale of Moby Dick
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Document emerged showing Melville as sailor on the Acushnet in 1840
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Set sail from New Bedord, Masachusetts in 1841 - and was gone four years
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Sailed the Pacific, lived with islanders and had first-hand whaling experience
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Academics have pointed to how his experiences shaped classical U.S. novel
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Moby Dick was obscure in author's life - other sailing tale made him money
@placeholder, one of the great American novels, is pictured above in the 1956 film version