Typhoon (novel)
Typhoon is a novel by Joseph Conrad, begun in 1899 and serialized in Pall Mall Magazine in January–March 1902. Its first book publication was in New York by Putnam in 1902 and was published in Britain in Typhoon and Other Stories by Heinemann in 1903.
Plot summary
It is a classic sea yarn that describes how Captain MacWhirr sails the Siamese steamer Nan-Shan into a typhoon—a mature tropical cyclone of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Other characters include the young Jukes and Solomon, the head engineer. The novel classically evokes the sea-faring life at the turn of the century. While Macwhirr is emotionally estranged from his family and crew, and though he refuses to consider an alternate course to skirt the typhoon, his indomitable will in the face of a superior natural force elicits grudging admiration.
Characters
- Captain MacWhirr, an empirical man without imagination.
- Jukes, the first mate.
- Solomon Rout, the chief engineer, an experienced seaman.
- The boatswain.
- The second mate.
- The coolies, hired workers from India and China.
- Mrs MacWhirr, the Captain's wife.
- Mrs Rout, the chief engineer's wife.
- Messrs Sigg and Son, the owners of the boat.
Major themes
On the surface an adventure novel, the book contains many interwoven themes including:
- In a dangerous situation, people will follow someone showing certainty even if the source of the certainty is dubious.
- Lack of imagination can place one in as much danger as lack of experience.
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Novels and
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