Pros: History told as a compelling adventure story... Cons: Will be...unfortunately.... overlooked by many
History from the 1800's usually creates one of two responses from today's readers: a yawn, or a fascination. Perhaps it is because many people think of our collective past as staid and black and white, and truly devoid of any real adventure.
Pros: You won't be able to put it down Cons: If you tell anyone else how good the book is, they'll try to take it before you are finished
If you love a book that you can't put down until you're finished with it, you'll love "In the HEART of the SEA - The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex". This book, written by Nathaniel Philbrick, a leading authority on the history of Nantucket,...
Pros: A gripping story that was plainly well-researched. Cons: A few too many digressions.
The wreck of the whaleship Essex had the same kind of morbid fascination for 19th century Americans that the sinking of the Titanic does today, and for similar reasons: it was both appalling and needless. Both tragedies could have been...
Pros: exciting and educational, all rolled into one Cons: none that stand out
I recently read an article describing "Armchair Learning", a great term used to describe the process of being not only totally absorbed in the plot of a book, but absorbing all kinds of new factual information at the
same time. Philbrick's...
Pros: Very detailed and well researched, perfect blend of fact and conjecture Cons: None
Whaling- the idea is repugnant to those of us here in modern times. Having discovered the grace, beauty, and intelligence of these remarkable animals, we here in the civilized world shudder that there are still places in the world where harpooning...
Nathaniel Philbrick's spellbinding "In the Heart Of the Sea", presents the reader with a bit of a dilemma: what do you do with a book that, as the cliche has it "You can't put down.", but which is such a harrowing account of the...
Pros: Suspenseful, chilling plot Cons: Man's inhumanity to man and beast
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is a survivor’s tale that will chill you to the bone. I had read some reviews that gave away details of the plot and I wished I hadn’t so I won’t spoil it for you. It’s enough to know it’s a true story of...
Pros: Captivating historical adventure tale Cons: Loses momentum when the author strays from the immediate story of the whalers
Imagine the horror of watching your ship sink – the casualty of an attack by an angry, 85-foot sperm whale – more than two thousand miles from shore. Not that it matters much, but you don’t even know how to swim.
Pros: Incredibly well written, enjoyable, loads of feeling! Cons: Can't put it down, sometimes stomach turning.
I originally bought this book as a Christmas present for my mother...She told me to buy her a "good book", and I figured I couldn't go wrong with a book bearing the National Book Award. The back summary sounded like it was an interesting book, but...
Pros: A real page turner Cons: Not for the fainthearted
Nat Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea", is a horrifying true sea adventure, based on the records of the whaleship Essex's encounter with a sperm whale. Melville based Moby Dick mainly on this event.
Pros: Brilliantly researched and written Cons: A little on the short side
Every now and again a piece of writing comes along that reminds us of our slender hold on life, a work that makes us realize that no matter who we are, what we have or what we are capable of, we are alive because of chance and because nature has allowed...
The inspiration for Moby Dick - an interesting footnote, but who really cares? What matters is that this story is one of the best I've read in a long time. Even though the author reveals some of the fates of these men early on, the story is exciting...
Pros: A riveting adventure story which is little known or recounted. Cons: None
Previously I had not heard this incredible story before. After the whaleship Essex had been deliberately sunk by a sperm whale the men took to the boats. Out of the three whaleboats that set out from the sinking Essex only two made it to saftey. The men...
Pros: Suspenseful, fascinating story full of interesting historical facts Cons: Absolutely nothing
This book is well-researched and well-written. It would seem surprising for a factual historical account to be so compelling. The author is masterful at lacing the story with historic background and science. This was a book simply stumbled on in a bookstore that looked interesting; it turned out to be one of the best Aramis ever read. It was a motivator to seek out similar historical books like 'Demon of the Waters' by Gibson, where this one is mentioned.
In The Heart Of The Sea (hardcover) Recounts The Story Of The 1820 Wreck Of The Whaleship Essex, Which In Its Time Was As Mythic As The Sinking Of The Titanic And Which Inspired Melville...
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