In the Heart of the Sea: The Epic True Story That Inspired ‘Moby Dick’

The sinking of the Nantucket whale ship Essex by an enraged sperm whale far out in the Pacific in 1820 was the inspiration for Melvilles classic novel. In this compelling narrative, the maritime historian Nathaniel Philbrick uses first hand accounts, including the diary of one of the survivors, to describe the terrifying experiences of the 20 crewmen of the Essex when they took to the open sea in three small boats.