Omoo by Herman Melville (1847)

The novel follows the story of a young sailor who escapes from a South Seas island where he was held captive by a Polynesian chief. He joins a whaling ship and becomes embroiled in a series of adventures, including mutiny and encounters with various island cultures. The narrative explores themes of identity, morality, and the complexities of human relationships in a multicultural world.

By Herman Melville · First published 1847 · Genre: Adventure, Travel, Fiction · 60 chapters

Contents

• My Reception Aboard
• Some Account of the Ship
• Further Account of the Julia
• A Scene in the Forecastle
• What Happened at Hytyhoo
• We Touch at La Dominica
• What Happened at Hannamanoo
• The Tattooers of La Dominica
• We Steer to the Westward-State of Affairs
• A Sea-Parlour Described, with some of its Tenants
• Doctor Long Ghost a Wag-One of his Capers
• Death and Burial of Two of the Crew
• Our Destination Changed
• Rope Yarn
• Chips and Bungs
• We Encounter a Gale
• The Coral Islands
• Tahiti
• A Surprise-More about Bembo
• The Round Robin-Visitors from Shore
• Proceedings of the Consul
• The Consul's Departure
• The Second Night off Papeetee
• Outbreak of the Crew
• Jermin Encounters an Old Shipmate
• We Enter the Harbour-Jim the Pilot
• A Glance at Papeetee-We are Sent Aboard the Frigate
• Reception from the Frenchman
• The Reine Blanche
• They Take Us Ashore-What Happened There
• The Calabooza Beretanee
• Proceedings of the French at Tahiti
• We Receive Calls at the Hotel De Calabooza
• Life at the Calabooza
• Visit from an Old Acquaintance
• We are Carried before the Consul and Captain
• The French Priests Pay their Respects
• Little Julia Sails Without Us
• Jermin Serves Us a Good Turn-Friendships in Polynesia
• We Take Unto ourselves Friends
• We Levy Contributions on the Shipping
• Motoo-Otoo a Tahitian Casuist
• One is Judged by the Company he Keeps
• Cathedral of Papoar-The Church of the Cocoa-Nuts
• Missionary's Sermon; with some Reflections
• Something about the Kannakippers
• How they Dress in Tahiti
• Tahiti as it Is
• Same Subject Continued
• Something Happens to Long Ghost
• Wilson Gives Us the Cut-Departure for Imeeo
• The Valley of Martair
• Farming in Polynesia
• Some Account of the Wild Cattle in Polynesia
• A Hunting Ramble with Zeke
• Mosquitoes
• The Second Hunt in the Mountains
• The Hunting-Feast; and a Visit to Afrehitoo
• The Murphies
• What they Thought of Us in Martair

More by Herman Melville

• Billy Budd (1886)
• Bartleby, The Scrivener (1853)
• Moby Dick (1851)
• Typee (1846)
• I and my Chimney (1856)
• Redburn (1849)
• The Portent. (1859.) (1859)
• Misgivings. (1860.) (1860)
• All works by Herman Melville