In the Heart of the Sea is the true story of the Nantucket whaleship Essex, its encounter with an 85-foot sperm whale in the central Pacific, and the subsequent 3,000+ mile journey of the survivors back to rescue near Chile. Philbrick's tale is based upon the narratives of the first mate Owen Chase and cabin boy Thomas Nickerson.
Having read Melville's Moby Dick earlier this year, I was curious to learn more about the true story upon which his epic tale was based. A bit of quick Wikipedia study led me to Philbrick's book, which I then dutifully picked up at the library.
Unlike Moby Dick, where the epic battle between whale and man comes at the final climax to the book, Leviathan strikes barely halfway through the story in In the Heart of the Sea. While the Essex had adventures enough on its journey from Nantucket around Cape Horn to the Pacific whaling grounds, it is the epic journey of survival after the ship sinks that sets this story apart.
I won't spoil it for you. This is reality at its harshest, and Philbrick weaves the tale expertly. For certain, put it on your reading list.
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