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Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex
Adapted from In the Heart of the Sea , s oon to be a major motion picture starring Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Ben Wishaw, and Brendan Gleeson, and directed by Ron Howard.
On November 20, 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry whale. Within minutes, the twenty-one-man crew, including the fourteen-year-old cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, found themselves stranded in three leaky boats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with barely any supplies and little hope. Three months later, two of the boats were rescued 4,500 miles away, off the coast of South America. Of the twenty-one castaways, only eight survived, including young Thomas. Based on his New York Times best-seller In the Heart of the Sea , Nathaniel Philbrick recreates the amazing events of the ill-fated Essex through the sailors own first-hand accounts, photos, maps, and artwork, and tells the tale of one of the great true-life adventure stories.
On November 20, 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry whale. Within minutes, the twenty-one-man crew, including the fourteen-year-old cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, found themselves stranded in three leaky boats in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with barely any supplies and little hope. Three months later, two of the boats were rescued 4,500 miles away, off the coast of South America. Of the twenty-one castaways, only eight survived, including young Thomas. Based on his New York Times best-seller In the Heart of the Sea , Nathaniel Philbrick recreates the amazing events of the ill-fated Essex through the sailors own first-hand accounts, photos, maps, and artwork, and tells the tale of one of the great true-life adventure stories.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
40 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Nathaniel Philbrick
45 books3,541 followersPhilbrick was Brown’s first Intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978; that year he won the Sunfish North Americans in Barrington, RI; today he and his wife Melissa sail their Beetle Cat Clio and their Tiffany Jane 34 Marie-J in the waters surrounding Nantucket Island.
After grad school, Philbrick worked for four years at Sailing World magazine; was a freelancer for a number of years, during which time he wrote/edited several sailing books, including Yaahting: A Parody (1984), for which he was the editor-in-chief; during this time he was also the primary caregiver for his two children. After moving to Nantucket in 1986, he became interested in the history of the island and wrote Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People. He was offered the opportunity to start the Egan Maritime Institute in 1995, and in 2000 he published In the Heart of the Sea, followed by Sea of Glory, in 2003, and Mayflower. He is presently at work on a book about the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Mayflower was a finalist for both the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction. In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award for nonfiction; Revenge of the Whale won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Sea of Glory won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize and the Albion-Monroe Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. Philbrick has also received the Byrne Waterman Award from the Kendall Whaling Museum, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for distinguished service from the USS Constitution Museum, the Nathaniel Bowditch Award from the American Merchant Marine Museum, the William Bradford Award from the Pilgrim Society, the Boston History Award from the Bostonian Society, and the New England Book Award from the New England Independent Booksellers Association.
from his website
After grad school, Philbrick worked for four years at Sailing World magazine; was a freelancer for a number of years, during which time he wrote/edited several sailing books, including Yaahting: A Parody (1984), for which he was the editor-in-chief; during this time he was also the primary caregiver for his two children. After moving to Nantucket in 1986, he became interested in the history of the island and wrote Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People. He was offered the opportunity to start the Egan Maritime Institute in 1995, and in 2000 he published In the Heart of the Sea, followed by Sea of Glory, in 2003, and Mayflower. He is presently at work on a book about the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Mayflower was a finalist for both the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in History and the Los Angeles Times Book Award and was winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction. In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award for nonfiction; Revenge of the Whale won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award; Sea of Glory won the Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize and the Albion-Monroe Award from the National Maritime Historical Society. Philbrick has also received the Byrne Waterman Award from the Kendall Whaling Museum, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for distinguished service from the USS Constitution Museum, the Nathaniel Bowditch Award from the American Merchant Marine Museum, the William Bradford Award from the Pilgrim Society, the Boston History Award from the Bostonian Society, and the New England Book Award from the New England Independent Booksellers Association.
from his website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
June 29, 2025
This is a truly insane true story that has such crazy coincidences it feels made up.
Although this is considered the YA version of The Heart of the Sea, it is really intense and has captured the attention of two adults and a high schooler. I wonder if the other novel is better or just full of more filler because it is longer, but still written by the same author.
Spoiler: How ironic that the crew was so scared the natives on the close-by islands would be cannibals and because they took the long way, they ended up killing and eating one another.
Although this is considered the YA version of The Heart of the Sea, it is really intense and has captured the attention of two adults and a high schooler. I wonder if the other novel is better or just full of more filler because it is longer, but still written by the same author.
Spoiler: How ironic that the crew was so scared the natives on the close-by islands would be cannibals and because they took the long way, they ended up killing and eating one another.
December 16, 2025
I love history books that are written for middle grade readers. I did find myself dragging my feet through it, as I do with all nonfiction, but I still very much enjoyed it.
October 7, 2018
Monstrous whales! Bloodthirsty sharks! Storms, starvation, and dehydration! Pirates, cannibalism!
This is a graphic depiction of the sinking of the whaleship Essex, adapted for a YA audience by seasoned scholar Nathaniel Philbrick (the adult version is available also).
The sinking of the whaleship Essex was a tale well known to Herman Melville, and this account served as inspiration to the classic Moby-Dick. Yet the biography here, cobbled together using primary source material from survivors of the wreckage, paints a horrific tale of men adrift at sea for some 90-odd days.
This is the stuff of true nightmares.
This is a graphic depiction of the sinking of the whaleship Essex, adapted for a YA audience by seasoned scholar Nathaniel Philbrick (the adult version is available also).
The sinking of the whaleship Essex was a tale well known to Herman Melville, and this account served as inspiration to the classic Moby-Dick. Yet the biography here, cobbled together using primary source material from survivors of the wreckage, paints a horrific tale of men adrift at sea for some 90-odd days.
This is the stuff of true nightmares.
February 12, 2015
I think this book was bad because it is boring also because it is about dead people. I also think it was bad because it made me tired and and it didn't have any action or something. It felt like if it was just a plain and an ordinary old book. I didn't really like it. I also didn't understand that well and I think only adults would like that book because they would understand it more. I think kids wouldn't read it because they would not understand that book.That is why when my teacher was asking questions about it I hide a little so they would not pick me and they pick me and they ask me the question and I say I don't because i didn't understand this book at all.
January 29, 2022
“Moby Dick 2.0”
Read
October 1, 2025imagine avoiding salvation because you're afraid of cannibals only to end up eating each other anyways
September 5, 2017
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of The Whale Ship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick is a book based on historical events that happened to the unlucky crew of a Nantucket whaleship. The whaleship Essex left Nantucket and sailed around the coast of South America to the Pacific Ocean. The ship was led by Captain George Pollard with the help of his first mate Owen Lewis. Having been unable to find any significant number of whales so far on their journey, they set sail for a walking ground in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but disaster struck. Never before in the history of whaling had a whale ever attacked a ship, but the unfortunate crew of the Essex became the first to experience such an event. On November 2, 1820 the ship was struck repeatedly by a whale said to be 100 feet long. The ship sank, and the crew squeezed into three small boats. With little food and water, and about a thousand miles offshore, there was little chance of survival for the crew. This is a story with themes of loss, endurance, and will to live, it shows the extremes a human being can go to in order to survive, and it shows what happens when someone gives up during hardship.
I enjoyed this compelling story about a real life event. I prefer reading either nonfiction or historical fiction because it is more relatable and I feel as if I can take more away from the story. This book told the story of a unique event in history, one that is basically unheard of. Tales of human survival are always thought provoking because they make me wonder what I would do in that situation. Would I give up, and surrender to dying under the broiling sun, or would I fight on until I reach home and safety? I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an exciting read that will keep them on the edge of their seat. Revenge of the Whale is thrilling and exciting, and a must read for any fan of history.
I enjoyed this compelling story about a real life event. I prefer reading either nonfiction or historical fiction because it is more relatable and I feel as if I can take more away from the story. This book told the story of a unique event in history, one that is basically unheard of. Tales of human survival are always thought provoking because they make me wonder what I would do in that situation. Would I give up, and surrender to dying under the broiling sun, or would I fight on until I reach home and safety? I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an exciting read that will keep them on the edge of their seat. Revenge of the Whale is thrilling and exciting, and a must read for any fan of history.
January 16, 2020
I've read a number of Philbrick's books and this one simply didn't strike me as compelling as the others. The story is built on a long lost, but now found, journal of someone who'd been on the Essex. The narrative just didn't have a lot of soul, to my mind. That's actually a tough statement given the inherent excitement that should simply permeate a book about a whaleship being attacked, and subsequently the crew striving to survive is whaling-turned-life boats.
Two possible reasons for my reserved review:
1) the book is touted as adapter for young people. I'm not sure if that adaptation resulted in removing some of the book's narrative punch (and, if so, why?).
2) I'm reading this book not long after reading MOBY DICK, possibly the finest story I've ever read. Melville was inspired by the sinking of the Essex and boy does his writing have soul!
Two possible reasons for my reserved review:
1) the book is touted as adapter for young people. I'm not sure if that adaptation resulted in removing some of the book's narrative punch (and, if so, why?).
2) I'm reading this book not long after reading MOBY DICK, possibly the finest story I've ever read. Melville was inspired by the sinking of the Essex and boy does his writing have soul!
March 14, 2023
I thought that this book was great! It outlines what really happened on the Essex, which is the name of the ship in the book. Plot Line: The story revolves around the Essex, a Nantucket whaleship, and its crew who left on a two year trip. The trip was plagued by one disaster after another for nearly a year and a half, when a huge sperm whale did the unheard of, and attacked them, sinking the boat in the Pacific Ocean. All 20 members of the crew got in three whaleboats and were stuck at sea for three horrible months. The crew resorted to eat their dead friends, or kill others for food. Eventually the boats became separated, when they were rescued off the coast of Chile, only five of them were alive.
November 30, 2019
I can always count on Philbrick to tell a good story.
This is the tale of the fateful, final journey of the Whaleship Essex. Human error, storms, bad luck, and one angry whale lead to the sinking of the ship. The men adapt three whaleboats, divide themselves among them and set sail. Again, human error leads to drastic consequences. Fantastic story of courage and struggle and survival against the odds. Also a terrible story of pride and the realities of a social structure that decides who lives and who dies, and in what order.
This is the tale of the fateful, final journey of the Whaleship Essex. Human error, storms, bad luck, and one angry whale lead to the sinking of the ship. The men adapt three whaleboats, divide themselves among them and set sail. Again, human error leads to drastic consequences. Fantastic story of courage and struggle and survival against the odds. Also a terrible story of pride and the realities of a social structure that decides who lives and who dies, and in what order.
September 17, 2021
This is not a story for children or the faint hearted. It is a true story and horrifying and tragic. It was quite an amazing story, but because the truth of this was so awful, I had to say I didn't like it; thus the one star.
December 20, 2023
Revenge of the Whale by Nathaniel Philbrick is a nonfiction book is about this boy named Thomas Nickerson he joins the crew when he was fourteen years old.
He was preparing for his life to go to the ship but he wasn’t going alone he had friends that are going with.
He was preparing for his life to go to the ship but he wasn’t going alone he had friends that are going with.
April 29, 2013
o Your full name: Karen Henspeter
o APA citation: Philbrick, N. (2005). Revenge of the whale: The true story of the whaleship Essex. New York, NY: Audio Bookshelf.
o Genre: Informational
o Format: Audiobook
o Selection process: Rudiger, H. (2005). Great middle school reads. Children & Libraries, 3(1), 41-42 and ALA book picks 2003. (2003). School Library Journal, 49(3), 62-70.
o Review:
In this harrowing tale of loss and endurance, Nathaniel Philbrick tells the true story of the Essex, the same whaleship known for its destruction in Moby Dick. After being attacked twice by a sperm whale, the boat sinks in the Pacific Ocean during the month of November 1820, leaving the crew to float hopelessly in three tiny, ill-prepared boats. One by one, the crew members die, ravaged by the horrors of starvation, disease, and—eventually—cannibalism. Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, adapted from Philbrick’s adult novel entitled In the Heart of the Sea, is intended for a young adult audience but spares its readers no details. The process of death is explained with brutal honesty, potentially leaving readers sick to their stomachs.
Although much of the book is devoted to explaining the horrors of fighting for survival, Philbrick also weaves fascinating details about life on a whaleship into his book. Readers will gain an understanding of the world during the early 19th century and how whaling contributed to the economy. They will learn about the workings of a boat and its crew, along with the logistics of hunting and processing a whale long before modern conveniences were available.
The story ends with a theme of hope. After floating over 4,500 miles, two of the boats are discovered off the coast of South America. Only eight of the original 28 sailors remain. Philbrick follows the survivors as they return to Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Remarkably, some of the men return to sailing, leaving readers with the realization that the human spirit is, indeed, incredibly resilient. Many first-hand accounts are included throughout the story, allowing readers to feel as if they have made the journey through hell and back with the survivors of the Essex.
o Recommendation level: Highly recommended*
*Revenge of the Whale is a captivating masterpiece of nonfiction.
o APA citation: Philbrick, N. (2005). Revenge of the whale: The true story of the whaleship Essex. New York, NY: Audio Bookshelf.
o Genre: Informational
o Format: Audiobook
o Selection process: Rudiger, H. (2005). Great middle school reads. Children & Libraries, 3(1), 41-42 and ALA book picks 2003. (2003). School Library Journal, 49(3), 62-70.
o Review:
In this harrowing tale of loss and endurance, Nathaniel Philbrick tells the true story of the Essex, the same whaleship known for its destruction in Moby Dick. After being attacked twice by a sperm whale, the boat sinks in the Pacific Ocean during the month of November 1820, leaving the crew to float hopelessly in three tiny, ill-prepared boats. One by one, the crew members die, ravaged by the horrors of starvation, disease, and—eventually—cannibalism. Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, adapted from Philbrick’s adult novel entitled In the Heart of the Sea, is intended for a young adult audience but spares its readers no details. The process of death is explained with brutal honesty, potentially leaving readers sick to their stomachs.
Although much of the book is devoted to explaining the horrors of fighting for survival, Philbrick also weaves fascinating details about life on a whaleship into his book. Readers will gain an understanding of the world during the early 19th century and how whaling contributed to the economy. They will learn about the workings of a boat and its crew, along with the logistics of hunting and processing a whale long before modern conveniences were available.
The story ends with a theme of hope. After floating over 4,500 miles, two of the boats are discovered off the coast of South America. Only eight of the original 28 sailors remain. Philbrick follows the survivors as they return to Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Remarkably, some of the men return to sailing, leaving readers with the realization that the human spirit is, indeed, incredibly resilient. Many first-hand accounts are included throughout the story, allowing readers to feel as if they have made the journey through hell and back with the survivors of the Essex.
o Recommendation level: Highly recommended*
*Revenge of the Whale is a captivating masterpiece of nonfiction.
May 20, 2013
Revenge of the Whale
Nathaniel Philbrick
The main characters in this book are Thomas Nickerson George Pollard and Owen Chase. The basic plot of this story is that a ship from Nantucket is collecting whale oil. While on their journey, they are rammed by a huge sperm whale and the ship sinks. They then are out at sea for months hoping for rescue and go to extreme measures in order to stay alive. The conflict in this story is that the group has very few provisions and they are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and need to stay alive. The resolution of this is that they improvise their boats for open sea and they go to extreme measures in order to survive. I deeply enjoyed reading this book. First was because it is a non-fiction story of survival and how to survive. I also loved it because it was so specific and I was surprised about this because when it was written, all of the people aboard the ship were dead. I love survival and adventure and this book was perfectly written to fit my tastes.
Nathaniel Philbrick
The main characters in this book are Thomas Nickerson George Pollard and Owen Chase. The basic plot of this story is that a ship from Nantucket is collecting whale oil. While on their journey, they are rammed by a huge sperm whale and the ship sinks. They then are out at sea for months hoping for rescue and go to extreme measures in order to stay alive. The conflict in this story is that the group has very few provisions and they are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and need to stay alive. The resolution of this is that they improvise their boats for open sea and they go to extreme measures in order to survive. I deeply enjoyed reading this book. First was because it is a non-fiction story of survival and how to survive. I also loved it because it was so specific and I was surprised about this because when it was written, all of the people aboard the ship were dead. I love survival and adventure and this book was perfectly written to fit my tastes.
June 16, 2016
I appreciate this "adapted for young people" book since it features about as much open sore, breaking bones, and cannibalism speak as I want to read. The fact that these handful of guys survived 90ish days floating in the Pacific is shocking in an amazing and disturbing way. Dehydration is not pretty. The bravery of whalers in the 1800's was something else. This was a chosen career?! And I can't believe this historical event was like a bad action movie where the black guys die first . . . conspiracy anyone?!
September 14, 2020
I read at least half of this in the bathtub since the copy I own came from a free pile and was already water-damaged. In describing the story to my partner, I realized that he has read the adult version of this book, which is called "In the Heart of the Sea." These fellows traveled far from home and fixed ships in wild weather, all of these things seem more difficult than staying home for an undisclosed amount of time due to corona virus. Plus I don't have to eat a small supply of hard tack and water, thank goodness.
July 12, 2014
Great read which lead to a wonderful discussion (checked it out in the catechism) on cannibalism with the older kids:) Suitable for most ages but cannibalism is definitely a part of their survival...
January 4, 2017
A story based on real life events that tells a tale of being stranded at sea and the hard decisions and troubles that plagued the men that survived.
January 8, 2021
"Revenge of the Whale": A Strong Story of a Ghastly Calamity
Even the stoic Chase could not help but wonder at how ‘we looked upon our shattered and sunken vessel with such an excessive fondness and regret…[I]t seemed as if abandoning her we had parted with all hope.’ The men exchanged frightened glances, even as they continued to search out the disappearing wreck, ‘as though,’ Nickerson said, ‘it were possible that she could relieve us from the fate that seemed to await us.’ (Philbrick 64)
"Revenge of the Whale" by Nathaniel Philbrick is a compelling story written with great passion and detail. This non-fictional novel is based off of the great story of Moby Dick. This book is about a crew of twenty one daring men who all expected a routine voyage. Instead they had a year and a half filled with near-catastrophes. These twenty one men found themselves stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in three leaky boats and little to no supplies that lead to death of starvation and horrible acts among the men. In three months, two boats were extricated off of the coast of South America. Only eight of the twenty one men survived this appalling crisis.
This exhilarating story takes place aboard The Essex. Philbrick describes it as, “The hot July sun beat down on the old, oil-soaked ship until the temperature below was infernal, but Nickerson explored every cranny. ’[B]lack and ugly as she was’, Nickerson wrote...” (1). Through this, the author opens the reader’s mind and puts them into the perspective of the men’s living situation in the time they spent aboard The Essex. The intricate style of his writing makes it effortless to identify the scenery and the characters. The way Philbrick writes these characters makes it very clear to the reader how this person would behave and gives them an insight as to how they cope with such situations. Philbrick mentions Thomas Nickerson, Captain George Pollard, Jr., and Owen Chase very frequently throughout the book. The author informs through his writing that Thomas Nickerson is a very head strong fourteen year old boy who learns very quickly that he has no one to protect him through his time on The Essex. He is forced to grow up very quickly and then put into a situation that grown men can hardly handle. Captain George Pollard, Jr. is twenty eight years old and in the past four years, he has spent seven months aboard The Essex as second mate, then first mate. Only two months before he went on his voyage, he married nineteen year old Mary Riddell. Philbrick describes Owen Chase as a very successful sailor who is well qualified for every position he is given. He was extremely hard on the other men and was Captain George Pollard, Jr.’s biggest threat aboard the ship. At only twenty two years old, Chase had already mastered everything he needed to know about performing Pollard’s role. The way the author describes the characters and the harsh environment these men were forced to live through is astonishing. He took such a strong story and executed it exquisitely.
Philbrick wrote this book admirably, however this book is not for every reader. I am a freshman at Lake Highschool and I have read many books for projects, assignments, and for my own enjoyment. I personally enjoy reading a great deal of historical literature and that is what I primarily stick to. Non-fiction literature has never been an interest of mine, but the way Philbrick writes this story is so monumental that it disguises the genre completely. Anyone who enjoys grand literature will greatly appreciate the way the author captivates your attention and takes you into the story as though you are feeling the same as the characters. I would recommend this book to the age group of late teens to the end of life because of the intense situations these men were put through. Overall, this book was a very good read and historical reader’s will really appreciate the author and his story.
Works Cited
Philbrick, Nathaniel. Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.
Even the stoic Chase could not help but wonder at how ‘we looked upon our shattered and sunken vessel with such an excessive fondness and regret…[I]t seemed as if abandoning her we had parted with all hope.’ The men exchanged frightened glances, even as they continued to search out the disappearing wreck, ‘as though,’ Nickerson said, ‘it were possible that she could relieve us from the fate that seemed to await us.’ (Philbrick 64)
"Revenge of the Whale" by Nathaniel Philbrick is a compelling story written with great passion and detail. This non-fictional novel is based off of the great story of Moby Dick. This book is about a crew of twenty one daring men who all expected a routine voyage. Instead they had a year and a half filled with near-catastrophes. These twenty one men found themselves stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in three leaky boats and little to no supplies that lead to death of starvation and horrible acts among the men. In three months, two boats were extricated off of the coast of South America. Only eight of the twenty one men survived this appalling crisis.
This exhilarating story takes place aboard The Essex. Philbrick describes it as, “The hot July sun beat down on the old, oil-soaked ship until the temperature below was infernal, but Nickerson explored every cranny. ’[B]lack and ugly as she was’, Nickerson wrote...” (1). Through this, the author opens the reader’s mind and puts them into the perspective of the men’s living situation in the time they spent aboard The Essex. The intricate style of his writing makes it effortless to identify the scenery and the characters. The way Philbrick writes these characters makes it very clear to the reader how this person would behave and gives them an insight as to how they cope with such situations. Philbrick mentions Thomas Nickerson, Captain George Pollard, Jr., and Owen Chase very frequently throughout the book. The author informs through his writing that Thomas Nickerson is a very head strong fourteen year old boy who learns very quickly that he has no one to protect him through his time on The Essex. He is forced to grow up very quickly and then put into a situation that grown men can hardly handle. Captain George Pollard, Jr. is twenty eight years old and in the past four years, he has spent seven months aboard The Essex as second mate, then first mate. Only two months before he went on his voyage, he married nineteen year old Mary Riddell. Philbrick describes Owen Chase as a very successful sailor who is well qualified for every position he is given. He was extremely hard on the other men and was Captain George Pollard, Jr.’s biggest threat aboard the ship. At only twenty two years old, Chase had already mastered everything he needed to know about performing Pollard’s role. The way the author describes the characters and the harsh environment these men were forced to live through is astonishing. He took such a strong story and executed it exquisitely.
Philbrick wrote this book admirably, however this book is not for every reader. I am a freshman at Lake Highschool and I have read many books for projects, assignments, and for my own enjoyment. I personally enjoy reading a great deal of historical literature and that is what I primarily stick to. Non-fiction literature has never been an interest of mine, but the way Philbrick writes this story is so monumental that it disguises the genre completely. Anyone who enjoys grand literature will greatly appreciate the way the author captivates your attention and takes you into the story as though you are feeling the same as the characters. I would recommend this book to the age group of late teens to the end of life because of the intense situations these men were put through. Overall, this book was a very good read and historical reader’s will really appreciate the author and his story.
Works Cited
Philbrick, Nathaniel. Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.
November 11, 2020
For more reviews and Bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, Adapted for Young People from In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is an adaptation of the author’s more New York Times best seller history book. The book has been adapted into a 2015 motion picture, In the Heart of the Sea, which has not been received very well, but I think that now I’ll have to watch it.
The story revolves around the Essex, a Nantucket whaleship, and its crew who left on a two year trip. The trip was plagued by one disaster after another for nearly a year and a half, when a huge sperm whale did the unheard of, and attacked them, sinking the boat in the Pacific Ocean.
All 20 members of the crew got in three whaleboat and were stuck at sea for three horrible months. The crew resorted to eat their dead friends, or kill others for food. Eventually the boats became separated, when they were rescued off the coast of Chile, only five of them were alive.
My son bought this book for himself, I read it as well since the subject seemed interesting and I knew I wasn’t going to read the “grown up” version, also it’s something I like to do as it gives us something to talk about around the dinner table. Especially in days like this, the time of COVID where we spend all day, every day together.
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, Adapted for Young People from In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is not for the weak of stomach. I have no idea what’s in the full book, but the author certain did not mince on the gore and toll the months at sea took on the poor crew.
The author does an excellent job recreating life in a small whaling town in 1819 New England. He also describes at length the bad luck the Essex had while on her last voyage. The attack of the whale is possibly my favorite part of the book, as well as the influence the story had on Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.
The book is based on a journal that was lost at one time, but found again. While the author does a fine job, the problem with such stories is that we, the readers, are not vested with any of the characters, and hence don’t have a personal stake, if you will, in the story.
The author managed to write a gripping and captivating story about actual events, in a relatable, easy to read manner. I must admit that I enjoyed it more than my son, but I’m sure that has more to do with his reading style and taste than the author’s talent.
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, Adapted for Young People from In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is an adaptation of the author’s more New York Times best seller history book. The book has been adapted into a 2015 motion picture, In the Heart of the Sea, which has not been received very well, but I think that now I’ll have to watch it.
The story revolves around the Essex, a Nantucket whaleship, and its crew who left on a two year trip. The trip was plagued by one disaster after another for nearly a year and a half, when a huge sperm whale did the unheard of, and attacked them, sinking the boat in the Pacific Ocean.
All 20 members of the crew got in three whaleboat and were stuck at sea for three horrible months. The crew resorted to eat their dead friends, or kill others for food. Eventually the boats became separated, when they were rescued off the coast of Chile, only five of them were alive.
My son bought this book for himself, I read it as well since the subject seemed interesting and I knew I wasn’t going to read the “grown up” version, also it’s something I like to do as it gives us something to talk about around the dinner table. Especially in days like this, the time of COVID where we spend all day, every day together.
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex, Adapted for Young People from In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick is not for the weak of stomach. I have no idea what’s in the full book, but the author certain did not mince on the gore and toll the months at sea took on the poor crew.
The author does an excellent job recreating life in a small whaling town in 1819 New England. He also describes at length the bad luck the Essex had while on her last voyage. The attack of the whale is possibly my favorite part of the book, as well as the influence the story had on Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.
The book is based on a journal that was lost at one time, but found again. While the author does a fine job, the problem with such stories is that we, the readers, are not vested with any of the characters, and hence don’t have a personal stake, if you will, in the story.
The author managed to write a gripping and captivating story about actual events, in a relatable, easy to read manner. I must admit that I enjoyed it more than my son, but I’m sure that has more to do with his reading style and taste than the author’s talent.
November 13, 2018
Many people have heard, or read the book, Moby Dick. Where a whale destroys the whaleship Essex and forces the crew to endure many hardships. The book Revenge of the Whale is the true story to what happened on the ship Essex.
The book begins by introducing the character Thomas Nickerson a boy of the age 14 who has lived on Nantucket for his whole life. Nantucket is a small seafaring town that lives off of whales and their oil. Thomas along with three other boys has been hired to join the crew of the ship Essex for a two-year voyage to find and kill sperm whales. On August 12, 1819, the whaleship and the crew of the Essex began their voyage. They traveled the Atlantic searching for whales. However, the reader begins to notice that little problems could pose disastrous for example they had only four lifeboats when six is a safe number. After a year of being at sea, disaster struck. A huge sperm whale rammed into the ship. Although at first, the men were amazed they realized that the ship could have been seriously damaged. But before they could react the whale ramed them again with more force this time puncturing a hole in the bow and making the ship sink.
The men were then left with little food, little water, and in uncharted waters. They had to endure horrible conditions even going to such extremes as cannibalism. After about a year only a few made it out alive.
I recommend this book to those who have read books like Moby Dick and In the Heart of the Sea. I say this because it explains what actually happened to the poor crew of the whaleship Essex and how they survived. It can be brutal at times seeing as they did have to eat each other, but it is an excellent book. I also recommend it to people who want to research the lives of whaleship crewman and people who like seafaring adventures. I personally enjoyed this book.
The book begins by introducing the character Thomas Nickerson a boy of the age 14 who has lived on Nantucket for his whole life. Nantucket is a small seafaring town that lives off of whales and their oil. Thomas along with three other boys has been hired to join the crew of the ship Essex for a two-year voyage to find and kill sperm whales. On August 12, 1819, the whaleship and the crew of the Essex began their voyage. They traveled the Atlantic searching for whales. However, the reader begins to notice that little problems could pose disastrous for example they had only four lifeboats when six is a safe number. After a year of being at sea, disaster struck. A huge sperm whale rammed into the ship. Although at first, the men were amazed they realized that the ship could have been seriously damaged. But before they could react the whale ramed them again with more force this time puncturing a hole in the bow and making the ship sink.
The men were then left with little food, little water, and in uncharted waters. They had to endure horrible conditions even going to such extremes as cannibalism. After about a year only a few made it out alive.
I recommend this book to those who have read books like Moby Dick and In the Heart of the Sea. I say this because it explains what actually happened to the poor crew of the whaleship Essex and how they survived. It can be brutal at times seeing as they did have to eat each other, but it is an excellent book. I also recommend it to people who want to research the lives of whaleship crewman and people who like seafaring adventures. I personally enjoyed this book.
October 29, 2021
In the fantasy book Revenge of the Whale by Nathaniel Phil brick, Owen chase and Thomas Nickerson got on a ship as cremates yet they didn’t expect this crazy twist of a ride. This voyage continued to turn into a trip with several disasters. The book is based around the Pacific Ocean at least that where the whole book is practically. The book is meant to make realize that we need to stop killing whale (hint on the revenge part) it's to spread awareness. The voyage of this trip turned into a 2 year experience because of all the difficulties. The whole book is based on the the conflict events that go in through out the book. Owen Chase is like the most known character because he was practically the main character there were two characters but he talked the most. The main character Owen chase is a kid who is a hard working tough kid who loves a good fight and he really finished off the final touches on the action events. Owen is your average curious teenager who loves adventures and getting them self in trouble. This book had great action in it, it was detailed good so it was easy to picture. All of the event of auctioned are detailed really well, which is great for a person who loves action movies. There was a lot of randomness all over the book and there wasn’t much time in between the events so the randomness on the timing made it very weird. Along the way they had food issues which is a part of the events of action. The crew mates never were really ever mentioned so when they was they were hard to picture because it was hard to picture them, me personally I’m not a person who loves reading but this book was enjoyable because it was like watching a movie. I recommend this book if you love avengers, transformers and marvel movies because of the action.
August 5, 2022
This is a very well written book, though I do believe that Revenge of the Whale does not feel like a children's adaptation of this story. Even for a book that came out in 2002, it has some moments that I just couldn't follow.
One example of these moments is during the storm sequence. I saw the film prior to reading the book, so I knew that there was a whale that destroyed the Essex. The book started to speak about how water was all over the boat, and how it was rocking all over the place, and I thought to myself: "Already?" then I went back a couple of pages, and I figured out that it was the storm. Nevertheless, this scene is very well described, to the point where I can picture the reactions of the Crew members.
Another poorly adapted scene is the scene of Cannibalism. Yes, you heard that correctly. Not necessarily because it was hard to follow, but because that scene was so monumentally brutal. It describes how they dissected a dead human.
"After separating the limbs from the body and removing the heart, they sewed up what was remaining of Cole's body"
However, I enjoyed the read regardless, because it is genuinely so tragic. If you want to read and enjoy this story for yourself, I will highly recommend trying it out for readers above the age of 13.
75%
One example of these moments is during the storm sequence. I saw the film prior to reading the book, so I knew that there was a whale that destroyed the Essex. The book started to speak about how water was all over the boat, and how it was rocking all over the place, and I thought to myself: "Already?" then I went back a couple of pages, and I figured out that it was the storm. Nevertheless, this scene is very well described, to the point where I can picture the reactions of the Crew members.
Another poorly adapted scene is the scene of Cannibalism. Yes, you heard that correctly. Not necessarily because it was hard to follow, but because that scene was so monumentally brutal. It describes how they dissected a dead human.
"After separating the limbs from the body and removing the heart, they sewed up what was remaining of Cole's body"
However, I enjoyed the read regardless, because it is genuinely so tragic. If you want to read and enjoy this story for yourself, I will highly recommend trying it out for readers above the age of 13.
75%
June 15, 2019
This book is Philbrick’s condensed version—“adapted for young people”—of his own best-selling and award-winning In the Heart of the Sea (2000), the story of the whaleship Essex, the inspiration for Melville’s novel Moby Dick. Philbrick is a gifted writer, and as an adult, I enjoyed reading his thoughtful retelling of one of the greatest of American sea stories.
Whether the book is suitable for teenagers probably depends on their sophistication. Not that I’m concerned about their being too tender to be exposed to descriptions of cannibalism or the extreme physical suffering that precedes it. Most modern teens have probably seen so much Hollywood blood-and-gore, that this true story may appear tame, even boring, by comparison. The real sophistication required is the maturity to consider the larger themes of the story, for instance, the near foolhardiness of nineteenth-century whaling and (on a larger scale) how life-and-death consequences can hang on a momentary decision.
Whether the book is suitable for teenagers probably depends on their sophistication. Not that I’m concerned about their being too tender to be exposed to descriptions of cannibalism or the extreme physical suffering that precedes it. Most modern teens have probably seen so much Hollywood blood-and-gore, that this true story may appear tame, even boring, by comparison. The real sophistication required is the maturity to consider the larger themes of the story, for instance, the near foolhardiness of nineteenth-century whaling and (on a larger scale) how life-and-death consequences can hang on a momentary decision.
December 2, 2018
Genre: Nonfiction (informational)
Date: 11-15
Grade range: 3 on up
This book is an account of the whaling ship, the Essex. With help from documents and journals, the author brings to life the struggle these whaling men had at sea. With pictures, it brings parts of the whaling industry into light and teaches readers about a trade that is long gone, at least legally. It details their lives and how out of a crew of 21, only 8 men survived. It really holds the attention of the reader because you want to know how they survived, what did they do, and when they were rescued. They learn about the whale as well and just how big it is and how much damage one of those massive creatures can do. I enjoyed this book, but it is not my favorite. It is still a good read for those who need to branch out into nonfiction though.
Date: 11-15
Grade range: 3 on up
This book is an account of the whaling ship, the Essex. With help from documents and journals, the author brings to life the struggle these whaling men had at sea. With pictures, it brings parts of the whaling industry into light and teaches readers about a trade that is long gone, at least legally. It details their lives and how out of a crew of 21, only 8 men survived. It really holds the attention of the reader because you want to know how they survived, what did they do, and when they were rescued. They learn about the whale as well and just how big it is and how much damage one of those massive creatures can do. I enjoyed this book, but it is not my favorite. It is still a good read for those who need to branch out into nonfiction though.
June 24, 2020
This harrowing survival story is the non-fiction inspiration for the famous novel Moby Dick. In 1819 the whale ship Essex set out from Nantucket island. Several months into the voyage, and far from shore in the Pacific ocean, the ship was rammed by a sperm whale and subsequently sank. The 21-member crew escaped in small whaleboats. Their struggle against hunger, thirst, stormy weather and inaccurate navigation lasted for almost 3 months; most did not survive. The book details the effects of dehydration and starvation on the human body and mind, and describes cannibalism and casting lots for who should be shot so others could eat his body. Despite being called a version of In the Heart of the Sea*, Adapted for Young People, I would not recommend it before high school because of the disturbing subject matter.
*Big Read Lakeshore, 2020.
*Big Read Lakeshore, 2020.
May 6, 2021
I love stories related to water, and I love survival stories on water even more. This, of course, met both of those criteria. To say I love such a graphically horrible tragedy may seem inhumane, but I think this story is all about the best of humanity and the worst of human experience. It is tragic and unbelievable and plain out captivating all at the same time. At its heart this entire book may be about the revenge of a whale, too. It’s up to the reader to decide. If that whale wanted the men on that ship to suffer for killing its relations or friends, it fulfilled the goal. Watch Disney+ and its new show about whales. Perhaps whales can express anger. Regardless, the book is about the many struggles those men faced in trying to get back to land and it is a remarkable account for anyone to read.
August 7, 2022
Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick is a book based on the true story of the whaleship Essex. The whaleship was from Nantucket with the command of Captain George Pollard and first mate Owen Chase. While hunting a shoal of sperm whales, a huge male sperm whale hurled in fury and attacked the ship until she got flipped over and eventually sank. This incident marked a chapter in whaling, as never in the history of whale hunting had a ship been attacked by a whale. It tells the story of how only 8 of the 20 crew members survived to tell the story.
The historical event went on and served as the inspiration for Moby Dick. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the history of whaling, the life of shipping, and anyone that's a fan of the ocean and history.
The historical event went on and served as the inspiration for Moby Dick. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the history of whaling, the life of shipping, and anyone that's a fan of the ocean and history.
May 21, 2017
Nonfiction about the loss of the Whaleship Essex, which I found interesting. This book explained a lot about the whaling industry in the early nineteenth century and Nantucket, the heart of the whaling industry at this time. It also detailed the harrowing times that the survivors went through as they spent 3 months on the open ocean on the small whaleboats after the Essex sank. The men were reduced to living skeletons and in some cases to eating each other to stay alive.
Although this is an adaptation written for young people, it will not appeal to a lot of young readers due to the subject matter. But anyone who likes history and the sea will find much to like about this well-written account.
Although this is an adaptation written for young people, it will not appeal to a lot of young readers due to the subject matter. But anyone who likes history and the sea will find much to like about this well-written account.
January 31, 2023
Ah fiddlesticks.
Didn’t realize this was the abridged version about the Essex disaster. Still, for a book meant for younger readers, this is still an incredibly detailed piece of historical nonfiction.
After a rogue sperm whale fells the fishing vessel, the survivors are forced into three separate boats for three months. There’s a brief reprieve where they discover a sparsely populated island, with little sustenance, but they inevitably end up floating eternally on the sea.
The books extends to the difficulties many of the whalers faced after their rescue, haunted by cannibalism and ptsd. It makes you very grateful for the small problems we have - at least we aren’t 1700-1800s whalers. Sheesh.
Didn’t realize this was the abridged version about the Essex disaster. Still, for a book meant for younger readers, this is still an incredibly detailed piece of historical nonfiction.
After a rogue sperm whale fells the fishing vessel, the survivors are forced into three separate boats for three months. There’s a brief reprieve where they discover a sparsely populated island, with little sustenance, but they inevitably end up floating eternally on the sea.
The books extends to the difficulties many of the whalers faced after their rescue, haunted by cannibalism and ptsd. It makes you very grateful for the small problems we have - at least we aren’t 1700-1800s whalers. Sheesh.
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