51 pages • 1 hour read
Herman MelvilleTypee: A Peep at Polynesian Life
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1846A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Typee by Herman Melville, the narrator Tommo, dissatisfied with life aboard the whaling ship Dolly, escapes with his shipmate Toby to the island of Nukuheva. After a grueling climb, they mistakenly enter the valley of the Typee tribe, whom they feared due to rumors of cannibalism. Initially well-treated and fascinated by the Typee culture, Tommo’s suspicions eventually lead him to a dramatic escape after witnessing unsettling practices. This book discusses racist stereotypes of Indigenous people, including cannibalism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Herman Melville's Typee is praised for its vivid depiction of Polynesian life and adventurous spirit. Critics appreciate its descriptive prose and cultural insight but note its dated views and slow pacing. Some find the narrative engaging, while others see it as overshadowed by Melville's later works. Overall, Typee remains a fascinating, if imperfect, early travel novel.
Who Should Read Typee?
Readers who enjoy Typee by Herman Melville likely appreciate 19th-century adventure tales, exotic locales, and ethnographic narratives. Fans of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe or Moby-Dick by Melville himself will find similar themes of exploration and survival in an unknown land.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsBook Details
Travel Literature
Action / Adventure
Auto/Biographical Fiction
Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Natural World: Place
Self Discovery
History: World