Excellent, excellent book! Philbrick seamlessly edits all the various accounts of this tragedy together into a single tale that reads like a novel. He begins by setting the scene with an authentic view of Nantucket and a whale ship being prepared for its 2 or 3 year voyage. After many months at sea and catching numerous whales, the unbelievable happens. In the middle of the South Pacific, about as far from land as one can get, an 85-foot-long bull sperm whale intentionally rams the ship--TWICE--stoving its hull in and sinking it, something never before heard of in all the annals of whaling. The 20 castaways set out on a 3,500-mile journey in 3 small whaleboats after rigging sails for them from their overturned ship's sails and building up the little boats' sides a bit to give them a better chance against the sea. During their three-month odyssey, we witness these highly able seamen successfully repair one of the little boats on the high seas after a gale springs some planks in the bottom, and slowly devolve into wretched, virtually helpless, living skeletons, with nothing left but hope. A total of 8 out of the 20 ultimately survive, in an amazing feat of navigation and endurance. The hardships they endured are epic and heart-rending. The Essex story inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. I highly recommend also reading "The Loss of the Ship Essex, Sunk By A Whale" (Penguin Books) AFTER this one. It gives us First Mate Owen Chase's full first-person account, as well as the long-lost account by the ship's cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson. It also includes an account written by another mate, Thomas Chappel, plus letters and log entries from captains and others to whom the survivors, including Capt. Pollard of the Essex, told their story, and other items relating to the tragedy. Nickerson's account, in particular, offers a lot of corollary data of interest to the reader that only the eyes of a first-time seaman like this 14-year-old boy might have noticed. He includes vivid descriptions of places the ship visited while going around South America, descriptions of their shore time and of what they bought or traded in port, and information and tales about the inhabitants, the animal life, etc. It is well worth reading! But it will be most appreciated if you read "In The Heart Of The Sea" first.Read full review
As a lifetime reader, Nathaniel Philbrick's In The Heart Of The Sea has become my most gifted book to fellow readers. A riveting, spellbinding read, written in can't-put-it-down prose, you'll not be sorry for either your purchase or your time spent reading! An unforgettable adventure, steeped in history and the sea, it is the source of Melville's Moby Dick. If you've longed for adventure, the sea or seek to understand man's motivations, this book is for you! Nathaniel Philbrick's prose skips lightly as spindrift, with no space between you and being on deck with the crew.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
the copy I purchased had undisclosed flaws on the cover where a large sticker once was. The price didn’t reflect this.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Inspired by True Events,and Amazing what these men went through ,Two Months at Sea,and What they had to do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great book! If you're like me, you'd rather read fiction than non-fiction. Here's a way to kill two birds with one stone. This book has the elements of fiction (interesting characters, harrowing adventure, tragedy and even some comedy) bundled with interesting details about the history of Nantucket, whaling and commerce. If you like stories of the sea, this book shouldn't be missed.
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