Typee: Four Months' Residence in the Marquesas

First published in 1985. Typee, originally published in 1846, was Melville's first book. Full of romance and adventure, it is also largely autobiographical. It was an immensely popular and controversial book in its day and made Melville the literary discoverer of Polynesia. It tells the story of Tommo, a sailor, and his adventures on the Marquesas Islands. The book contains much romance and action packed events in a location that is totally exotic and sensuous. There is a serious background to.the work. When Melville was in Polynesia the missionaries had already begun their work and the colonists were hard on their heels. Melville's views on the influence of the two groups and his fair portrayal of the Polynesians were the centre of the controversies which raged over its publication and led to the book's ultimate censorship in America