In the Heart of the Sea
by Nathaniel Philbrick
Our Price: $10.27
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Nathaniel PhilbrickEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-04-02
ISBN: 0006531202
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Harpercollins Pb
Book Reviews of In the Heart of the Sea
Book Review: Vivid Account Of A tragic Journey
Summary: 5 Stars
This review refers to "In The Heart Of The Sea" by Nathaniel Philbrick
Nathaniel Philbrick leaves no stone unturned in this very tragic and complex, but true account of the wreck and sinking of The Whaleship Essex. Rammed by a huge sperm whale, that from all accounts was a definite attack on the ship, the crew, men who lived and profited by the sea and were the slayers of whales for the precious oil provided, were now the victims as the hunted became the hunter. It is an incredible story of man's will to survive against all odds, that was the inspiration for Melville's "Moby Dick".
Philbrick immediately draws you into not only the lives of the Essex's crew members, but the entire town of Nantucket, from where the ship sailed,detailing the close-knit families, the women's roles and the daily life in Nantucket. Often revealing some very intimate details. The life on board a whaling ship, the hardships of the journey for both the crew and their families, and the journey itself through the vast ocean are all very much a part of this story.
You will feel like you have gone back in time to 1820, and are there with them, as the whale attacks the ship, the men nearly frozen by horror and disbelief, and the beginning of a long, horrifying journey,a fight to stay alive under some of the worst conditions imaginable.For thousands of miles, and many months, I was constantly amazed at their ingenuity, and stamina as they tried to find safety, food and water. Steering clear of islands they thought might be inhabited by cannibals, they later found they had to resort to that themselves. Questions still remain as to the actual circumstances that occurred.
A handful of survivors left to tell the story, not all agreeing on some points, but enough so that this tragedy at sea and the men who lost their lives as well as those that survived may be remembered for their bravery. Philbrick delves into all the details, from the people involved, to procedures at sea, and even what became of the survivors through the years.The book is so well written, that it will grab you right away and won't let you go. Sometimes you have to keep in mind that this amazing tale is not an adventure novel.
For those who may prefer an audio editionIn The Heart Of The Sea: The Tragedy Of The Whaleship Essex... is an excellent reading . Narrator Scott Brick sets the tone and captures the importance,the tragic events, and the emotions involved. It is unabridged. For details of the audio edition see my review of 9/14/06.
A book that will certainly get read again and again. Highly recommended read for anyone, but for those who love tales of the sea...an account so vivid of this tragic story at sea, you may want to pack some Dramaine for the ride.
Enjoy the read....Laurie
Summary of In the Heart of the Sea
The Number One best-selling, epic true-life story of one of the most notorious maritime disasters of the 19th century, beautifully reissued alongside Philbrick's new paperback, Sea of Glory. The sinking of the whaleship Essex by an enraged spermwhale in the Pacific in November 1820 set in motion one of the most dramatic sea stories of all time: the twenty sailors who survived the wreck took to three small boats (one of which was again attacked by a whale) and only eight of them survived their subsequent 90-day ordeal, after resorting to cannibalising their mates. Three months after the Essex was broken up, the whaleship Dauphin, cruising off the coast of South America, spotted a small boat in the open ocean. As they pulled alongside they saw piles of bones in the bottom of the boat, at least two skeletons' worth, with two survivors -- almost skeletons themselves -- sucking the marrow from the bones of their dead ship-mates.United States Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in United States Books
The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depressionby Amity Shlaes
HarperAudio; Published: 2007-06-12; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $15.88
Price in other shops:
Profiles in Courage (slipcased edition): Decisive Moments in the Lives of Celebrated Americansby John F. Kennedy
Harper; Published: 2006-10-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
Going Rogue: An American Lifeby Sarah Palin
Broadside Books; Published: 2010-08-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
Dreamland: A Novelby Kevin Baker
Harper Perennial; Published: 2002-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
April 1865: The Month That Saved America (P.S.)by Jay Winik
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.79
Price in other shops:
And You Know You Should Be Glad: A True Story of Lifelong Friendshipby Bob Greene
William Morrow; Published: 2006-05-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.30
Price in other shops:
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Mealby Eric Schlosser
PBS; Harper Perennial; Published: 2005-07-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Thomas Jefferson: A Lifeby Willard Sterne Randall
Harper Perennial; Published: 1994-06-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.16
Price in other shops:
Winning Local and State Electionsby Ann Beaudry
Free Press; Published: 1986-05-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.44
Price in other shops:
Stonewall Jacksonby James Robertson
Macmillan Pub.; Published: 1997-02-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $48.00
Price in other shops: