Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life

Herman Melville

Northwestern University Press, 1992 - Fiction - 374 pages

Almost from the time of its publication early in 1846, Melville's first book, based on his own travels in the South Seas, has been recognized as a classic in the literature of travel and adventure. From the beginning, however, there have been problems with the text. Due to disparities between the American and English editions, and revisions Melville had to make at his publisher's request concerning its racy style and attitude toward missionaries, the book has circulated in two versions.

This scholarly edition is based on collations of all editions published during his lifetime, incorporating many authorial readings that have often been omitted and some that have been misprinted in all previous editions. This edition is an Approved Text of the Center for Editions of American Authors (Modern Language Association of America).

Contents

• Passage from the Cruising Ground to the Marquesas Sleepy: 9
• Some Account of the late operations of the French at the Marquesas: 16
• CONTENTS xi: 20
• Thoughts previous to attempting an Escape Toby a Fellow: 30
• A Specimen of Nautical Oratory Criticisms of the Sailors: 34
• The other side of the Mountain Disappointment Inventory: 41
• The Important Question Typee or Happar? A WildGoose: 50
• Perilous Passage of the Ravine Descent into the Valley: 58
• The Head of the Valley Cautious Advance A Path Fruit: 66
• Midnight Reflections Morning Visitors A Warrior in: 76
• Officiousness of KoryKory His Devotion A Bath in the: 88
• Attempt to procure Relief from Nukuheva Perilous Adventure: 97
• A great Event happens in the Valley The Island Telegraph: 104
• Kindness of Marheyo and the rest of the Islanders A full De: 113
• Improvement in Health and Spirits Felicity of the Typees: 123
• Swimming in company with the Girls of the Valley A Canoe: 131
• Reflections after Marnoos Departure Battle of the Popguns: 143
• History of a day as usually spent in the Typee Valley Dances: 149
• Preparations for a Grand Festival in the Valley Strange doings: 157
• The Feast of Calabashes: 163
• Ideas suggested by the Feast of Calabashes Inaccuracy of certain: 169
• General Information gathered at the Festival Personal Beauty: 180
• King Mehevi Allusion to his Hawiian Majesty Conduct of: 188
• The Social Condition and General Character of the Typees: 200
• Fishing Parties Mode of distributing the Fish Midnight: 206
• Natural History of the Valley Golden Lizards Tameness: 210
• A Professor of the Fine Arts His Persecutions Something: 217
• Strange custom of the Islanders Their Chanting and the pecu: 226
• The Stranger again arrives in the Valley Singular Interview: 240
• Appendix Provisional cession to Lord George Paulet of the Sandwich Islands: 254
• EDITORIAL APPENDIX: 273
• TEXTUAL RECORD By the Editors: 303
• RELATED DOCUMENTS: 361

About the author

Herman Melville (1819-91) was an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist. His novels include Moby-Dick, Omoo, and The Confidence-Man, all published in authoritative editions by Northwestern University Press.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life; Volume 1 of Melville, Herman: The writings of Herman Melville; Volume 1 of The Writings of Herman Melville, Herman Melville; Volume 1 of The Writings, George Thomas Tanselle; Volume 1 of Writings of Herman Melville : the Northwestern-Newberry edition / eds. Harrison Hayford, general ed; Volume 1 of Writings of Herman Melville, 99-0031820-X, Herman Melville
• Author: Herman Melville
• Editor: Harrison Hayford
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Northwestern University Press, 1992
• ISBN: 0810101599, 9780810101593
• Length: 374 pages
• Subjects: Fiction / Classics