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Omoo

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Omoo: A Narrative of the South Seas is Herman Melville's sequel to Typee, and, as such, was also autobiographical. After leaving Nuku Hiva, the main character ships aboard a whaling vessel which makes its way to Tahiti, after which there is a mutiny and the majority of the crew are imprisoned on Tahiti. The book follows the actions of the narrator as he explores Tahiti and remarks on their customs and way of life.

Many sources[who?] incorrectly assert that Omoo is based on Melville's stay in the Marquesas—the novel is, in fact, exclusively based on his experiences in the Society Islands.[citation needed]

Publication history

A portion of Omoo was first printed on April 24, 1847, in the Literary World, with a complete edition released on May 1 of that year.[1]

References

  1. ^ Miller, Perry. The Raven and the Whale: The War of Words and Wits in the Era of Poe and Melville. New York: Harvest Book, 1956: 203.