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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, possibly based upon real Conrad's experience of seaman's life, and probably on a real incident aboard of the real steamer "John P. Best". It 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 - most probably an 'alter ego' of Conrad from the time he had sailed under captain John McWhir - and Solomon Rout, the chief engineer. The novel classically evokes the sea-faring life at the turn of the century. While Macwhirr, who, according to Conrad, 'never walked on this Earth' - 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.
• Captain Wilson from "Melita", the "storm-strategist".
• Jukes, the first mate (with no first name).
• Jukes' absent friends - second mate Jack Allen and another mate from trans-Atlantic liner (addressee of Jukes' letter).
• Solomon Rout, the chief engineer, an experienced seaman.
• Seconf engineer Harry and third engineer Beale.
• The boatswain.
• The second mate.
• Sailors, steward and cook of the "Nan-Shan".
• The coolies, hired workers from India and China.
• The clerk for Messrs. Bun-Hin Co.
• Mrs Lucy MacWhirr, the Captain's wife.
• Lydia MacWhirr, the Captain's daughter.
• Mrs Rout, the chief engineer's wife.
• Messrs Sigg and Son, the owners of the boat.
• Owners and foremen from the building yard.

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.

External links

• Typhoon and Other Stories, available at Internet Archive (1921 edition)
• Typhoon at Project Gutenberg
• Template:Ria

• 1902 novels
• Novels by Joseph Conrad
• Novels first published in serial form
• Works originally published in The Pall Mall Magazine
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