In the heart of the sea

the epic true story that inspired Moby Dick

by

English language

Published Nov. 20, 2015 by William Collins.

ISBN:
978-0-00-812683-4
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OCLC Number:
898315548

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5 stars (1 review)

"When the whaleship Essex set sail from Nantucket in 1819, the unthinkable happened. A mere speck in the vast Pacific ocean - and powerless against the forces of nature - Essex was rammed and sunk by an enraged sperm whale, and her twenty crewmen were forced to take to the open sea in three small boats. Ninety days later only a handful of survivors were rescued - and a terrifying story of desperation, cannibalism and courage was revealed ... One of the greatest sea yarns ever spun, 'In the Heart of the Sea' is the true story of the extraordinary events that inspired Herman Melville's masterpiece 'Moby-Dick'."--Back cover.

29 editions

reviewed In the heart of the sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Review of 'In the heart of the sea' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Did you know that Melville's Moby Dick was inspired by a true story? In the Heart of the Sea recounts the harrowing experiences of the crew of the Essex, a 238-ton Nantucket whaling ship which was attacked and sunk by a lone, angry sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in November, 1820. The survivors went on to sail thousands of miles in the open water for months in search of land or rescue as their starved companions died around them. A truly fascinating story of survival and difficult decisions. Winner of the 2000 National Book Award for non-fiction.

Subjects

  • Whaleboats
  • Essex (Whaleship)
  • Shipwreck survival
  • Shipwrecks
  • Survival

Places

  • South Pacific Ocean
  • Massachusetts
  • Nantucket Island