Herman Melville - Complete Works of Herman Melville

TYPEE

Melvilles first novel is a semi-autobiographical account of life on the Marquesas Islands in the 1840s and is considered to be the first romance of the South Seas. Sub-titled A Peep at Polynesian Life, Typee is based on a four week sojourn of Melville and a fellow sailor Richard Tobias Greene, who abandoning their ship the Acushnet sought refuge on an island which led to their capture by supposedly cannibalistic Typee and recounts their subsequent adventures prior to their escape.

On his return to the States, Melville drafted these experiences into Typee which was accepted for publication in 1846 in both New York and England. It was published first in England by Charles Murray in February 1846 as a part of the Colonial and Home Series only after Melville added sections that focused on Typee culture. In March 1846 the first American edition appeared and was essentially the same as the British one with minor alterations.

Although an immediate success on both sides of the Atlantic it was strongly criticised for its attack on missionaries and the openness of its discussions of sexuality. Also many questioned its authenticity which was only ended when his fellow castaway Richard Tobias Greene (the Toby character in the account) corroborated Melvilles story. This led to the sequel The Story of Toby which recounted his experiences. Subsequent American editions were carefully edited to remove the content considered offensive and controversial. Eventually in 1892 Arthur Stedman, Melvilles literary executor produced an edition based on the original British version, but even then changes and variations were made.