I could not help but notice that today is the anniversary of the publication of one of my favorite novels, Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville in 1851. Though “Call me Ishmael” became one of the most famous opening lines in literary history, the novel was not a commercial success and it was only after Melville’s death that his literary genius in the work was appreciated.
Moby-Dick was one of my favorites in Mr. Muldoon’s high school lit class. And one of his favorites, too. He taught symbolism in a manner that brought the books we studied to life for me and gave the story a rich layer to uncover.
One of the interesting facts about Moby-Dick that I discovered at a much later time, though I’m certain Mr. Muldoon discussed with our class, regards the Starbucks. Are we talking coffee here? Not really! Melville most likely took his inspiration from the real-life Starbucks of Nantucket family. Hmm, something I’ve been known to do with the Hortons of Long Island!
When I began writing my three-book series, The Southold Chronicles, my sweet mother-in-law, Lory DeMarino, was so excited and supportive of me. When I described to her how it was inspired by my real life ninth great-grandparents, the Hortons, she smiled and said I should write about hers. I was used to friends and acquaintances with good intentions advising me of great writing subjects – but I wasn’t prepared to learn that her ancestors were the Starbucks – her mother’s maiden name!
My husband thought their Starbucks were of the coffee fame (he told me he was still waiting for dividend
checks!), but a little genealogy sleuthing on my part uncovered the fact that their family lineage went directly back to the Starbucks of Nantucket. Nathaniel and Mary (Coffin) Starbuck are my hubby’s ninth great-grandparents! How cool is that? The Starbucks, as in Moby-Dick, were a whaling family and Nathaniel’s father, Edward, was the first to come over from England in the 1600’s. And while I might not be writing a Starbuck story soon, I love the parallel lives of my family’s ancestors!
Here is a bit of trivia for you and a question in celebration of the publication anniversary of Moby-Dick. Did you know that the story was previously published before Harper and Brothers released it in New York in November of 1851? Trivia question: Where and when was it published, and what was the title?
Rebecca DeMarino writes love, legends and lore as a historical romance author and lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. To Capture Her Heart released from Revell in July, and is book two of The Southold Chronicles, a series based on the true lives of her ninth great-grandparents. She inherited her love of baking and gardening from her mother, a love of horses, reading and writing from her dad, and the wanderlust gene from both parents. Her travels have taken her from Alaska to Nebraska and Florida, from Long Island to England and Italy, and from Washington DC to Texas, California and Guam. But usually you can find her close to home hiking with her husband, Tom, or baking crisp little ginger cakes.