mike64
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2008
- Messages
- 1,042
"In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex".
I hadn't heard of this book at all, until my wife picked it up at a garage sale. Very interesting read, if you're into maritime history (or any kind of history, for that matter). It's the true story of a whale ship that was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the South Seas (this was the inspiration for "Moby ****"). The sailers had to get in three rickety harpoon vessels and find their way to land. They decided to steer clear of the South Sea islands and head for South America (thousands of miles away) instead, because they were afraid of cannibals. This was ironic considering the eventual outcome...
Besides the survival part of the story, there's a lot of interesting information about whalers and the whaling industry in the early 19th century. I saw parallels with the petroleum industry today-- a huge, profitable industry built on a dwindling energy source that was probably as important to the economy then as petroleum is today.
Fun fact-- the term "knots" to measure speed on water comes from dropping a rope in the water with a board tied to the end and knots tied at regular lengths along it. How many knots went in the water in a certain time period, measured with an hourglass, was how fast (how many "knots") the ship was moving. Did not know that!
I hadn't heard of this book at all, until my wife picked it up at a garage sale. Very interesting read, if you're into maritime history (or any kind of history, for that matter). It's the true story of a whale ship that was attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in the South Seas (this was the inspiration for "Moby ****"). The sailers had to get in three rickety harpoon vessels and find their way to land. They decided to steer clear of the South Sea islands and head for South America (thousands of miles away) instead, because they were afraid of cannibals. This was ironic considering the eventual outcome...
Besides the survival part of the story, there's a lot of interesting information about whalers and the whaling industry in the early 19th century. I saw parallels with the petroleum industry today-- a huge, profitable industry built on a dwindling energy source that was probably as important to the economy then as petroleum is today.
Fun fact-- the term "knots" to measure speed on water comes from dropping a rope in the water with a board tied to the end and knots tied at regular lengths along it. How many knots went in the water in a certain time period, measured with an hourglass, was how fast (how many "knots") the ship was moving. Did not know that!