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In the Wake of Madness
IN THE WAKE OF MADNESS is the gripping true story of one of the bloodiest mutinies of the nineteenth century, written by an award-winning maritime historian. In 1841, Massachusetts whaleship Sharon set out for the whaling grounds of the northwestern Pacific. Twelve men deserted the ship, and three Pacific Islanders joined the crew. The story of the mutiny, the murder and the ship's eventual recapture unfolds in breathless detail. An aspiring young writer of the time eagerly followed this true story: his name was Herman Melville.
420 pages, Audio CD
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Joan Druett
50 books184 followersBack in the year 1984, on the picture-poster tropical island of Rarotonga, I literally fell into whaling history when I tumbled into a grave. A great tree had been felled by a recent hurricane, exposing a gravestone that had been hidden for more than one and a half centuries. It was the memorial to a young whaling wife, who had sailed with her husband on the New Bedford ship Harrison in the year 1845. And so my fascination with maritime history was triggered ... resulting in 18 books (so far). The latest—number nineteen—is a biography of a truly extraordinary man, Tupaia, star navigator and creator of amazing art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
June 19, 2023
The story that Joan Druett is writing about is truly one of horror and what man is capable of taken out of his civilized life. Her depiction of the whaling business was eye-opening for me. Of course there is also the story of turning a blind eye.
The whale ship Sharon, out of Massachusetts, belonged to a hugely profitable industry of the time. Its bankers were wealthy men who built ships and hired officers for trips across the world’s oceans to hunt sperm whales for oil, the fuel of the day. Though risky, it was hugely profitable when things went well. The Sharon’s story begins in 1842 when she left for the South Seas. This date is the apex for whaling for oil. Rockefeller was soon to find petroleum and that would change the market forever.
The Sharon had a ghastly captain (perhaps no worse than others in his profession) who tortured and abused his men, in particular a young black man who died as a result of beatings and poor diet that had occurred over a prolonged period of time. The crew had many reasons not to come forward at the time, not the least fear for their own lives. Abuse was so bad that every time the ship had to stop for provisions men abandoned ship, frequently 1/3 of the crew. Evidently this too was not that unusual, for Captain Norris found replacements at every stop. Beachcombers (white men who had jumped from other ships or had been deliberately left by other captains), islanders who could be cajoled or kidnapped to fill empty spots, and other people who were not questioned too closely were taken on board the Sharon. The sailors were to be paid in shares when the ship arrived home. The Sharon’s crew were teenagers and men in their 20s—mostly early twenties. Whaling had been bad, leadership was mostly bad and Captain Norris was finally murdered by three islanders (conveniently for everyone in power).
The ship finally returned to New Bedford without full details of the disaster but plenty of rumors. Druett is an experienced writer of maritime stories who weaves this story with other pertinent true stories of the time. This can be a bit wandering and some conclusions are merely speculation.
The next purpose of the book is to show the relevance of this story to the writings of Herman Melville, particularly Moby Dick. Overall, the book is well worth reading for those interested in 19th century sailing, the whale industry, or Melville.
The whale ship Sharon, out of Massachusetts, belonged to a hugely profitable industry of the time. Its bankers were wealthy men who built ships and hired officers for trips across the world’s oceans to hunt sperm whales for oil, the fuel of the day. Though risky, it was hugely profitable when things went well. The Sharon’s story begins in 1842 when she left for the South Seas. This date is the apex for whaling for oil. Rockefeller was soon to find petroleum and that would change the market forever.
The Sharon had a ghastly captain (perhaps no worse than others in his profession) who tortured and abused his men, in particular a young black man who died as a result of beatings and poor diet that had occurred over a prolonged period of time. The crew had many reasons not to come forward at the time, not the least fear for their own lives. Abuse was so bad that every time the ship had to stop for provisions men abandoned ship, frequently 1/3 of the crew. Evidently this too was not that unusual, for Captain Norris found replacements at every stop. Beachcombers (white men who had jumped from other ships or had been deliberately left by other captains), islanders who could be cajoled or kidnapped to fill empty spots, and other people who were not questioned too closely were taken on board the Sharon. The sailors were to be paid in shares when the ship arrived home. The Sharon’s crew were teenagers and men in their 20s—mostly early twenties. Whaling had been bad, leadership was mostly bad and Captain Norris was finally murdered by three islanders (conveniently for everyone in power).
The ship finally returned to New Bedford without full details of the disaster but plenty of rumors. Druett is an experienced writer of maritime stories who weaves this story with other pertinent true stories of the time. This can be a bit wandering and some conclusions are merely speculation.
The next purpose of the book is to show the relevance of this story to the writings of Herman Melville, particularly Moby Dick. Overall, the book is well worth reading for those interested in 19th century sailing, the whale industry, or Melville.
April 25, 2022
A very readable history of the whale ship Sharon which sailed from Martha's Vineyard in the USA to whaling grounds of the South-Pacific first in 1841 under her captain Howes Norris. He was a less than pleasant character - but most likely not an uncommon sort of whaling captain - highly driven to achieve his ends, cruel and uncompromising with those under his charge.
I enjoyed the way the author told the story of the Sharon through the diaries of two men on the ship, and compared these to the ship's log, which was sanitised by the captain, and omitted all of the dubious actions he took. Conversely, the diaries of Benjamin Clough, third mate under Norris and Andrew White, ships cooper recorded all the details Norris omitted to ensure he could not be held to the law.
Other contemporary ships of the Sharon are written into this narrative in a way that they build context around the story - Herman Melville is also a regular in the narrative of this book - he was a contemporary of Norris's and was active in other whaling ships in the same seas. Aspects of Melvilles Moby Dick are raised against some of the happenings of the South pacific which potentially shed a little light on where his story came from.
Norris's actions included putting men ashore (kicking them off the ship) and picking up new crew without recording them (against the law), and falsifying the cause of death of various crew, most of who were beaten to death, including the most horrific example of George Babcock, who was systematically tormented and beaten, essentially made to work to his death. One of the worst aspects was that the senior crew did nothing to stop the torturous behaviour, all choosing to stay on side with the captain. Those crew who did stand up and tried to protect Babcock were quickly put ashore.
Norris got his just deserts, brutally murdered, and the story takes a twist, with a new captain but equally poor luck with the whaling. I won't spoil the entire story for others who might read this book.
But I will say, that after the captains death the book follows the lives of Thomas Harlock Smith and Nathan Skiff Smith, who were cousins and first and second officer respectively on Sharon under Norris, as well as Ben Clough and Andrew White, whose diaries are so central to this book.
This is the second of Joan Druett's books I have read, and while this one didn't match up to Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, it was a good quick read, with a lot of interesting things included.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
I enjoyed the way the author told the story of the Sharon through the diaries of two men on the ship, and compared these to the ship's log, which was sanitised by the captain, and omitted all of the dubious actions he took. Conversely, the diaries of Benjamin Clough, third mate under Norris and Andrew White, ships cooper recorded all the details Norris omitted to ensure he could not be held to the law.
Other contemporary ships of the Sharon are written into this narrative in a way that they build context around the story - Herman Melville is also a regular in the narrative of this book - he was a contemporary of Norris's and was active in other whaling ships in the same seas. Aspects of Melvilles Moby Dick are raised against some of the happenings of the South pacific which potentially shed a little light on where his story came from.
Norris's actions included putting men ashore (kicking them off the ship) and picking up new crew without recording them (against the law), and falsifying the cause of death of various crew, most of who were beaten to death, including the most horrific example of George Babcock, who was systematically tormented and beaten, essentially made to work to his death. One of the worst aspects was that the senior crew did nothing to stop the torturous behaviour, all choosing to stay on side with the captain. Those crew who did stand up and tried to protect Babcock were quickly put ashore.
Norris got his just deserts, brutally murdered, and the story takes a twist, with a new captain but equally poor luck with the whaling. I won't spoil the entire story for others who might read this book.
But I will say, that after the captains death the book follows the lives of Thomas Harlock Smith and Nathan Skiff Smith, who were cousins and first and second officer respectively on Sharon under Norris, as well as Ben Clough and Andrew White, whose diaries are so central to this book.
This is the second of Joan Druett's books I have read, and while this one didn't match up to Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, it was a good quick read, with a lot of interesting things included.
3.5 stars, rounded down.
December 5, 2013
Part true crime narrative, part social exposé, In the Wake of Madness is also and most prominently a thoroughgoing history of whaling in the mid-nineteenth century. The economics, challenges, and hardships of life aboard a sailing vessel unfolds as author Druett follows the voyage of the whale ship Sharon into remote regions of the Pacific. The Sharon of Fairhaven, Massachusetts is captained by Howes Norris, a family man respected in his community. Ill fortune in the voyage when few whales are taken seems to spur the unraveling of Captain Norris, who vents his frustration in brutality toward his crew. His particular victim is a young black man, the Sharon’s steward, whom Norris humiliates, tortures, and eventually beats to death.
The terrible crime and its aftermath described in the personal journals of the Sharon’s mates, but never reported by those same men, reflects the cultural, and socio-economic prejudices of the time. When Captain Norris meets his own violent end at the hands of three Pacific islanders and a young sailor from Fayal, one can’t help but feel justice was done. No one inquires into motives, however, and the death of Captain Norris is soon known throughout the maritime community while those of the steward George Babcock and two Pacific islanders involved in Norris’s murder go unremarked. Although In the Wake of Madness depicts a grim set of events, the history and detail in the book, including beautiful interior illustrations, are outstanding. Author Joan Druett has produced another nuanced and scholarly book that examines whaling in its heyday, and nineteenth century norms and society, while telling the tale of, as one whaling wife put it, a man who had left his soul at home.
The terrible crime and its aftermath described in the personal journals of the Sharon’s mates, but never reported by those same men, reflects the cultural, and socio-economic prejudices of the time. When Captain Norris meets his own violent end at the hands of three Pacific islanders and a young sailor from Fayal, one can’t help but feel justice was done. No one inquires into motives, however, and the death of Captain Norris is soon known throughout the maritime community while those of the steward George Babcock and two Pacific islanders involved in Norris’s murder go unremarked. Although In the Wake of Madness depicts a grim set of events, the history and detail in the book, including beautiful interior illustrations, are outstanding. Author Joan Druett has produced another nuanced and scholarly book that examines whaling in its heyday, and nineteenth century norms and society, while telling the tale of, as one whaling wife put it, a man who had left his soul at home.
July 17, 2020
This had an enjoyable narration and was a tale I hadn't heard of yet in history. Can't - or can I? - believe this captain straight-up murdered a black crewman because he could. At least he didn't have acclaim in the papers after his - in my opinion - well-deserved violent death, but wow. A bunch of shady behavior with all these dudes keeping their silence. Glad we got the story somehow. A short read too, got through it on audio in one work day.
April 3, 2017
I wanted more maps and diagrams.
October 1, 2018
3.5 Stars
Snuck this one in because I needed a fix for something sea faring and this didn't disappoint. A fascinating and sometimes horrible account of Captain Howes Norris who was brutally murdered by some of his crew as he presided over the whaleship Sharon. Loved the details of ship life and the information that abounds in this book. Becoming an instant fan I'm already searching for more of her books.
Snuck this one in because I needed a fix for something sea faring and this didn't disappoint. A fascinating and sometimes horrible account of Captain Howes Norris who was brutally murdered by some of his crew as he presided over the whaleship Sharon. Loved the details of ship life and the information that abounds in this book. Becoming an instant fan I'm already searching for more of her books.
February 13, 2019
3.5 stars. Not as good as Island of the Lost, but still an interesting story. At times, a bit slow and over-detailed.
March 25, 2013
This true-life tale of a captain so harsh that he was murdered on his own ship had some interesting twists and turns, but the facts were more gripping than the writing. The account of everything after the ship's recapture was draggy, especially the repetitive lists of sailor desertions. I was almost happy to find that the last 60-some pages of its already short page count were appendixes and notes.
I'm also starting to think that it's against some nautical nonfiction code for an author to write about whaleships without invoking the life and writing of Melville at every opportunity. References to Moby Dick were sometimes piled as high as three to a page. That would probably make this a great read for a fan of that novel looking for whaling stories that Melville may have heard, but as someone who reads a lot of similar books it feels kind of tired. As soon as an author brings up harpoons or try pots, it's like I'm mentally counting down to a mention of Queequeg.
I'm also starting to think that it's against some nautical nonfiction code for an author to write about whaleships without invoking the life and writing of Melville at every opportunity. References to Moby Dick were sometimes piled as high as three to a page. That would probably make this a great read for a fan of that novel looking for whaling stories that Melville may have heard, but as someone who reads a lot of similar books it feels kind of tired. As soon as an author brings up harpoons or try pots, it's like I'm mentally counting down to a mention of Queequeg.
January 7, 2023
Really interesting mutiny story that included quite a lot of side information about the time period, whaling, other mutinies and shipwrecks, as well as the after stories of people who survived the main event. The author hit on some very interesting quirks in group dynamics and hierarchical systems that allow for some of the insanity that brought about the eventual mutiny. I really enjoyed this one.
November 13, 2013
"In the Wake of Madness" is an informative look at the horrifying last voyage of the whaler Sharon. It starts out somewhat slow. I felt throughout much of the first part there was so little known about the story that the authoress was grasping at straws, attempting to supplement the story with other thing not entirely of interest to this reader. Yet, she makes up for this later on as the story picks up momentum. The story is told in superb prose so that the reader feels like they are there witnessing everything for themselves (is that good or bad considering this is a mutiny story?). While there are photos available for many other historical nonfiction books I was disappointed that this one didn't have any. But Druett helped make up for that by supplying the descriptions (e.g. heights, coloring) throughout the story.
Overall the book is worth a read. I don't go in for murder stories, and when you get down to it that's what this book was, but anyone with an interest in maritime history should read this.
Overall the book is worth a read. I don't go in for murder stories, and when you get down to it that's what this book was, but anyone with an interest in maritime history should read this.
December 14, 2010
Not bad, but I think it lost a lot of steam after the mutiny. What I did find interesting was that a disproportionate amount of insanity among sea captains existed in the era the author describes. How did this happen? One can speculate that
- Captains by their nature are a high strung, high intensity type guys
- The riches to be made from whaling led to the over harvesting of sperm whales. At the same time, you need to hire more people to sail, which dilutes the quality of the crews.
- It also means that you have to sail farther & longer to make the voyage worthwhile
- This in turn, will mean that captains have more to do with worse crews over a longer time.
- Cap this off with the fact that you are on a boat with water all around for 97% of your existence, and insanity does not seem all that unlikely.
Other than that, the story did not grab me.
- Captains by their nature are a high strung, high intensity type guys
- The riches to be made from whaling led to the over harvesting of sperm whales. At the same time, you need to hire more people to sail, which dilutes the quality of the crews.
- It also means that you have to sail farther & longer to make the voyage worthwhile
- This in turn, will mean that captains have more to do with worse crews over a longer time.
- Cap this off with the fact that you are on a boat with water all around for 97% of your existence, and insanity does not seem all that unlikely.
Other than that, the story did not grab me.
May 19, 2020
Druett has written extensively and very readibly on women at sea and the C19th whaling trade.
Here she looks at the events around the 1841-42 Pacific cruise of the whaler Sharon of Fairhaven, MA, which saw Polyneasian crewmen mutiny and murder the captain. This was of course a great scandal at the time but the causes were covered-up. Druett examines the financial presures on the captain and his brutality and racism which lead to the mutiny (the turning of a blind eye to such things telling us a lot about the American merchant fleet of the time).
A really excellent read, well-worth looking into, even if you're not particularly interested in maritime history.
Other reviews coment unfavorably on the frequent mention of Herman Melville: but these events were contemporaneous with Melville's own voyages and certainly coloured his own writings.
Here she looks at the events around the 1841-42 Pacific cruise of the whaler Sharon of Fairhaven, MA, which saw Polyneasian crewmen mutiny and murder the captain. This was of course a great scandal at the time but the causes were covered-up. Druett examines the financial presures on the captain and his brutality and racism which lead to the mutiny (the turning of a blind eye to such things telling us a lot about the American merchant fleet of the time).
A really excellent read, well-worth looking into, even if you're not particularly interested in maritime history.
Other reviews coment unfavorably on the frequent mention of Herman Melville: but these events were contemporaneous with Melville's own voyages and certainly coloured his own writings.
November 29, 2021
As appetizers before trying to consume Moby Dick, this book as well as Melville’s Redburn serve very well. The barbarism of whale killing is only slightly surpassed by that shown by men to each other. This book also gives one some perspective of whaling in relation to parts of the world like New England, the South Sea islands, New Zealand, and others. I found the audiobook wonderfully read and very gripping.
February 9, 2011
I'd give this book one more star if only it included some photos or illustrations of the whaling ships and/or people in it (particularly the captain), but this story of mutiny, cruelty and murder has held my interest.
March 25, 2022
Omaha Public Library Reading Challenge 2022
6) Read a Book About or Featuring Water
I love a nautical tale. And this is a pretty good one. Thoroughly researched, briskly paced and well written. Not particularly in-depth, but you can only ask so much of 230 pages.
6) Read a Book About or Featuring Water
I love a nautical tale. And this is a pretty good one. Thoroughly researched, briskly paced and well written. Not particularly in-depth, but you can only ask so much of 230 pages.
August 27, 2018
This subject had huge potential. The presentation of the event was a bummer. To many tangents and then very fact oriented without flow.
November 6, 2021
I was deleting the audiobook for this at work, but it sounded interesting, so I grabbed the book (I hate audiobooks).
Overall, it IS interesting, in a vague historical way. Many times, for whatever reason, captains of whaling vessels on multiple-year voyages were ofttimes amiable on shore, but raging sadistic lunatics at sea. Although no reason is given, obviously being away from shore for months on end, gutting whales if you could catch them, eating the same nasty food day after day, not being home for years, dealing with storms, pirates, and cannibalistic natives in the Pacific Islands of the 19th century, and the malnutrition of poor diet and scurvy, no doubt played a role. Conditions were crowded, smelly, foul, reeking of dead whale carcass, the normal squabbles of men of different countries and abilities and races, personal prejudices - many men abandoned ships in any port that seemed friendly.
Such was the fate of the Sharon, and more. Druett builds up little teasers all along - "They had no idea what they were in for," "Little did he know how far it would go," etc. In the end, the captain of the Sharon, Howes Norris, picks a man as his scapegoat, beating and torturing him for no reason, until one day he finally beats him to death. Norris beats many of his crew inhumanely, but for some reason picks on this one especially. Norris is also silent about the whole thing, never mentioning the issues at all in his log, against all maritime law. Many of the crew try to mutiny, many take off at the next port of call, and many of the replacements they acquire are native Pacific Islanders. Running short-crewed, while the boats launch to chase a whale, two of the PIs murder Captain Norris with whale spades. One man is witness who lives. Some of the crew record the events in their own diaries, which don't show the First Officer in good light, either.
The first officer takes the ship and runs it for two years before returning home, and also has issues with the crew. The news of Norris's death and the failures of the cowardly first officer are told to the newspaper by one crewman, ruining the reputation of the first officer.
Druett tries to tie Norris's cruelty and death as Melville's basis for Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, as Melville was cruising in and out of the waters at the same time on whale boats, and most likely crossed paths with Norris - but she can't provide any details. And that's the biggest failure of the book - 90% of it is speculation - detailed, probable speculation, but still speculation. The crew sometimes didn't write in their diaries for 6 months at a time. Norris and his officers never said a word to anyone about his treatment of the crew, top secret stuff. Most of her information is taken from a few records and newspaper articles, but there just isn't enough to make this story top of the line thrilling. All the buildup, and then no one actually sees the murders - they come upon the mangled corpse which was unrecognizable because the ship's pigs had gone to town on the skull. While the information was interesting, and if you're into whaling history you'll probably like this, but there isn't enough information to make this a top-notch murder mystery.
The one thing I did find quite interesting is the table she includes in the back, which is the information on the crew given when they sign on. These men were TINY by today's standards. TINY. The tallest were of 5'9", while far more of them are 5'3", 5'4", 5'2", and one tiny guy at 4'9" - full grown men, doing all that hauling and lifting and harpooning and rowing - sometimes hours on end. It's a wonder they were able to do any of it at all. It's a testament to a life of malnutrition, these stunted men. I wonder what they would have thought of someone like Schwartzenneger in his prime.
Unless you're into whaling stories, you can skip this.
Overall, it IS interesting, in a vague historical way. Many times, for whatever reason, captains of whaling vessels on multiple-year voyages were ofttimes amiable on shore, but raging sadistic lunatics at sea. Although no reason is given, obviously being away from shore for months on end, gutting whales if you could catch them, eating the same nasty food day after day, not being home for years, dealing with storms, pirates, and cannibalistic natives in the Pacific Islands of the 19th century, and the malnutrition of poor diet and scurvy, no doubt played a role. Conditions were crowded, smelly, foul, reeking of dead whale carcass, the normal squabbles of men of different countries and abilities and races, personal prejudices - many men abandoned ships in any port that seemed friendly.
Such was the fate of the Sharon, and more. Druett builds up little teasers all along - "They had no idea what they were in for," "Little did he know how far it would go," etc. In the end, the captain of the Sharon, Howes Norris, picks a man as his scapegoat, beating and torturing him for no reason, until one day he finally beats him to death. Norris beats many of his crew inhumanely, but for some reason picks on this one especially. Norris is also silent about the whole thing, never mentioning the issues at all in his log, against all maritime law. Many of the crew try to mutiny, many take off at the next port of call, and many of the replacements they acquire are native Pacific Islanders. Running short-crewed, while the boats launch to chase a whale, two of the PIs murder Captain Norris with whale spades. One man is witness who lives. Some of the crew record the events in their own diaries, which don't show the First Officer in good light, either.
The first officer takes the ship and runs it for two years before returning home, and also has issues with the crew. The news of Norris's death and the failures of the cowardly first officer are told to the newspaper by one crewman, ruining the reputation of the first officer.
Druett tries to tie Norris's cruelty and death as Melville's basis for Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, as Melville was cruising in and out of the waters at the same time on whale boats, and most likely crossed paths with Norris - but she can't provide any details. And that's the biggest failure of the book - 90% of it is speculation - detailed, probable speculation, but still speculation. The crew sometimes didn't write in their diaries for 6 months at a time. Norris and his officers never said a word to anyone about his treatment of the crew, top secret stuff. Most of her information is taken from a few records and newspaper articles, but there just isn't enough to make this story top of the line thrilling. All the buildup, and then no one actually sees the murders - they come upon the mangled corpse which was unrecognizable because the ship's pigs had gone to town on the skull. While the information was interesting, and if you're into whaling history you'll probably like this, but there isn't enough information to make this a top-notch murder mystery.
The one thing I did find quite interesting is the table she includes in the back, which is the information on the crew given when they sign on. These men were TINY by today's standards. TINY. The tallest were of 5'9", while far more of them are 5'3", 5'4", 5'2", and one tiny guy at 4'9" - full grown men, doing all that hauling and lifting and harpooning and rowing - sometimes hours on end. It's a wonder they were able to do any of it at all. It's a testament to a life of malnutrition, these stunted men. I wonder what they would have thought of someone like Schwartzenneger in his prime.
Unless you're into whaling stories, you can skip this.
October 15, 2020
Audiobook
Though the facts on the ground be a little thin, the author brings the voyage to life most compellingly. Life on a ship plainly was no picnic, even if the captain wasn't actively trying to kill you, and whaling sounds suuuuper disgusting. The MPM (Melville references per minute) gets up there a little... It's almost the biography of that book's birth as much as about the Sharon.
Though the facts on the ground be a little thin, the author brings the voyage to life most compellingly. Life on a ship plainly was no picnic, even if the captain wasn't actively trying to kill you, and whaling sounds suuuuper disgusting. The MPM (Melville references per minute) gets up there a little... It's almost the biography of that book's birth as much as about the Sharon.
February 8, 2022
Fascinating, but not a "feel good" book. It was difficult to read about the abuse doled out by captains who seemed never to be held accountable for their actions. The mystery to me wasn't that the captain was murdered, but why it hadn't happened before. An additional puzzler is why anyone would want to make whaling their career choice.
Well written and thought provoking, but definitely not recreational reading.
Well written and thought provoking, but definitely not recreational reading.
October 6, 2013
This was a return at the library that caught my eye. I've always been interested in history, and more recently, maritime history about New England. In the Wake of Madness seemed like the intriguing story of a tragedy that befell a whaleship in the far Pacific Ocean.
The write up inside the cover suggested that this book would be the first to answer the question, what really happened the night the captain of the Sharon was killed, and who really were the murderers. I got hooked into the idea that the three Pacific Islanders that were left alone on the ship would turn out to be framed by the predominantly white crew and that there was a much deeper story to the murder. Without ruining the book, I can say that I was disappointed with the big "reveal" because it didn't really clarify the points that the author was claiming to clarify, but did give a lot of insight into the social hierarchy of whalemen and their the brutal conditions that people were forced to serve in. Remember, these ships are far out at sea away from any American workers laws, and usually relied upon young naive men or foreigners looking for adventure to fill up the empty spaces in the whaleboats. When these ships finally return to port its almost like a Fight Club-esque scenario: "The First Rule about Sailing is you don't talk about Sailing".
Even though I was somewhat let down at the end of the tale, this book is a quick, enjoyable read that would be of interest to history buffs and fiction lovers alike. It isn't a long academic tract about whaling, its written much more like Nathaniel Philbrick or Erik Larson. I'd call it popular nonfiction or microhistory, but I think the technical term is more like "creative nonfiction". This doesn't mean the facts are skewed or the story is made up, but unlike a history book you'd read for a college class, this one doesn't have a thousand footnotes or dry repetitive text. It focuses on such a narrow subject matter that it becomes a self contained and doesn't require as much of the history that David Hackett Fischer would include. In order to help make this type of narrative flow, there is a lot of created dialog or personal impressions that help to connect the reader to the emotions of the people who are being described. The author probably doesn't know exactly what the captain or the ship's carpenter was thinking at a specific moment, but she could make a pretty good assumption based on ship's logs, letters, and journal entries.
In addition, the author added chapter guides at the end of the book that gave more of the nitty gritty that was missing from the narrative, broken down by chapter, and included many of her references and the repositories that she visited.
Seadogs and landlubbers alike would enjoy this book if you're looking for a good mystery and like a bit of adventure thrown in. Its not as crazy a tale as Clive Cussler's Sahara, but in a way the journey of the Sharon draws you along in a similar manner. Both types of stories rely heavily on places and strong personalities to engage the reader, and its even more astounding to think about when you realize that Captain Howes Norris was really alive and was really brutally murdered by his own men. There is just this wow factor when you step away from it that you wouldn't get with Cussler. Also if you hated Moby Dick when you read it in school, or have waited to pick it up in fear of the 100 pages that just describe the white whale, then maybe you should give this one a try. Herman Melville apparently described a similar route followed by the Sharon in his novel and would have heard the rumors surrounding the murder of this deranged, solitary captain during his own travels.
The write up inside the cover suggested that this book would be the first to answer the question, what really happened the night the captain of the Sharon was killed, and who really were the murderers. I got hooked into the idea that the three Pacific Islanders that were left alone on the ship would turn out to be framed by the predominantly white crew and that there was a much deeper story to the murder. Without ruining the book, I can say that I was disappointed with the big "reveal" because it didn't really clarify the points that the author was claiming to clarify, but did give a lot of insight into the social hierarchy of whalemen and their the brutal conditions that people were forced to serve in. Remember, these ships are far out at sea away from any American workers laws, and usually relied upon young naive men or foreigners looking for adventure to fill up the empty spaces in the whaleboats. When these ships finally return to port its almost like a Fight Club-esque scenario: "The First Rule about Sailing is you don't talk about Sailing".
Even though I was somewhat let down at the end of the tale, this book is a quick, enjoyable read that would be of interest to history buffs and fiction lovers alike. It isn't a long academic tract about whaling, its written much more like Nathaniel Philbrick or Erik Larson. I'd call it popular nonfiction or microhistory, but I think the technical term is more like "creative nonfiction". This doesn't mean the facts are skewed or the story is made up, but unlike a history book you'd read for a college class, this one doesn't have a thousand footnotes or dry repetitive text. It focuses on such a narrow subject matter that it becomes a self contained and doesn't require as much of the history that David Hackett Fischer would include. In order to help make this type of narrative flow, there is a lot of created dialog or personal impressions that help to connect the reader to the emotions of the people who are being described. The author probably doesn't know exactly what the captain or the ship's carpenter was thinking at a specific moment, but she could make a pretty good assumption based on ship's logs, letters, and journal entries.
In addition, the author added chapter guides at the end of the book that gave more of the nitty gritty that was missing from the narrative, broken down by chapter, and included many of her references and the repositories that she visited.
Seadogs and landlubbers alike would enjoy this book if you're looking for a good mystery and like a bit of adventure thrown in. Its not as crazy a tale as Clive Cussler's Sahara, but in a way the journey of the Sharon draws you along in a similar manner. Both types of stories rely heavily on places and strong personalities to engage the reader, and its even more astounding to think about when you realize that Captain Howes Norris was really alive and was really brutally murdered by his own men. There is just this wow factor when you step away from it that you wouldn't get with Cussler. Also if you hated Moby Dick when you read it in school, or have waited to pick it up in fear of the 100 pages that just describe the white whale, then maybe you should give this one a try. Herman Melville apparently described a similar route followed by the Sharon in his novel and would have heard the rumors surrounding the murder of this deranged, solitary captain during his own travels.
October 30, 2016
At its best, whaling was a dirty business. Flogging was common until outlawed at the end of whaling days. Cruises were awful. Food was ghastly and inadequate and some captains reduced food to extend a voyage which might last 3 to 4 years - until they had filled the hole with whale oil - thousands of gallons of oil in the best of voyages gleaned from dozens of dead whales who were flanked, then the carcass left to drift away, food for sharks or whatever.
Aside from the Essex and other disasters, the voyage of the whaleship Sharon under Captain bowes Norris was an abomination, carefully hidden to avoid embarrassing the mad murdering captain. Norris who beat an innocent man to death over a period of 8 months because he was Black. The captain was later murdered by islanders who feared for their lives.
Druett gives the reader a real sense of how whaling was done and the treatment of sailors. Glad I have read it but it is very vivid in descriptions of how the captain, and other captains, treated the crews. Today whaling must still be a ghastly enterprise and destroying these magnificent beasts cannot be any prettier today.
Aside from the Essex and other disasters, the voyage of the whaleship Sharon under Captain bowes Norris was an abomination, carefully hidden to avoid embarrassing the mad murdering captain. Norris who beat an innocent man to death over a period of 8 months because he was Black. The captain was later murdered by islanders who feared for their lives.
Druett gives the reader a real sense of how whaling was done and the treatment of sailors. Glad I have read it but it is very vivid in descriptions of how the captain, and other captains, treated the crews. Today whaling must still be a ghastly enterprise and destroying these magnificent beasts cannot be any prettier today.
May 23, 2016
I knew this book seemed familiar. Yes, I read it before but apparently forgot to add it to my list. Luckily, it's a pretty good book. This is a great account of the whale ship Sharon. A whaling expedition that went terribly wrong. A tyrant captain that in my opinion got what he deserved. I like that the book mostly concentrates on the actual voyage and doesn't spend to much time on the pre and post like some books do. If you enjoy maritime history this book is definitely something you want to check out.
May 20, 2021
What a life for those whalers! I can't imagine what a miserable place it is living in a claustrophobic ship for months and years isolated from the outside world. Add to that the cruelty of the captain and any sane man can succumb to madness.
I should say I'm glad that using oil from whales has ended, otherwise these gentle mammals might be completely extinct by now, if they continued to be hunted. Thanks to the invention of kerosene lamps, it saved the whales.
I should say I'm glad that using oil from whales has ended, otherwise these gentle mammals might be completely extinct by now, if they continued to be hunted. Thanks to the invention of kerosene lamps, it saved the whales.
September 22, 2013
I've read most of Druett's books--this one is a bit more narrative in composition than her "women in the age of sail" books like Hen Frigates, which probably makes it a lot more appealing to a wider audience outside of maritime history buffs. Gruesome and disturbing, and i was ready to club the damn captain to death myself by the time he did meet his grisly end.
August 10, 2021
Unfortunately, this book has more acknowledgements & bibliographic info than a college student's term paper (possibly more pages that the balance of the book itself). It is tho, an interesting account of a little remembered mutiny.
January 25, 2016
I thought the book was good but ugh, every aspect of whaling was awful.
December 22, 2016
Not a lot of heavy mutiny going on here. More like Keystone Cops Go Whaling.
March 22, 2024
Nowhere in the description of this book does it mention Moby Dick, Herman Melville, Ahab, or Pequod. However, on almost every single page of the actual book one of these things is mentioned. For the first few chapters I couldn't figure out if the author had wanted to write a book about Moby Dick but realized there were too many out there already so instead decided to write a book about something else and just shove Moby Dick references in every paragraph, or if she wrote the book first and then went back and shoved Moby Dick references into every paragraph.
However as I continued to read, and as I read the references in the back, I realized that it was the former. Any and every opportunity to mention something regarding Moby dick, the author of said book, or the characters, was forced into the text whether it made sense in that moment or not. What it comes down to, is that in the same time period, Herman Melville also was on a whaling ship. Joan Druett also speculates that Herman Melville and the Sharon may have come into contact at some point, everything else is just her assumptions, combined with what seems to be an almost obsession with Melville and his novel, and a need to somehow relate it back to every single thing that happened before, during, and after the events on the Sharon.
It got to the point where I began skipping over the sentences that mentioned anything to do with Moby Dick, because it just held zero relevance to the actual story. However, I was kind of irritated that she gave away huge spoilers of Moby Dick in this book, I understand that Moby Dick is a very old book, and many people have read it, however if you have not read it yet, again this book makes no mention of it in the description. So you do not go in thinking you're going to be reading spoilers about Moby Dick in a book about a completely different whaling ship.
You may wonder, where my actual review of the story is, since so far I've just spent three paragraphs ranting about the crossover. Well that's the issue, the majority of the book is the author trying to tie together Herman Melville and the Sharon, but there is no way to tie it together, because the events that happened on the Sharon were in no way influenced or impacted by Herman Melville. An argument can be made, according to the author, that Melville was influenced by the events on the Sharon, but again this book was not supposed to be about Melville and what influenced him to write Moby Dick.
The actual story of the Sharon was interesting, however after the climax and the follow-up events, it continued on for multiple more chapters and what seemed to be an attempt to just make the book longer. There is also little in the way of actual facts, which is always an issue with these older books, but the author made it seem as though she had come across some secret as to why the story had been so covered up. However, in the back of the book where she references how she researched the story, there was no new revelation or new evidence, she took from newspaper articles written back then, journals, and then pure assumptions based on a variety of different things, some probably more accurate than others. This usually would not irritate me, I'm a big fan of the 1800s, especially shipping expeditions and voyages in the 1800s, and I know that there's a certain amount of speculation that has to go into telling these stories because record keeping was either faulty or lost. And she does tell the story in a different way than it was initially reported, I think I was just so done with the Melville crossover and so irritated at the huge spoiler that was put in for NO REASON, that I was over this story completely.
If an editor got a hold of this book, took out every single reference to Moby Dick, Pequod, Ahab, and Herman Melville, and then continued on to chop off the last couple of chapters after the events of the Sharon, it would be a much better book.
However as I continued to read, and as I read the references in the back, I realized that it was the former. Any and every opportunity to mention something regarding Moby dick, the author of said book, or the characters, was forced into the text whether it made sense in that moment or not. What it comes down to, is that in the same time period, Herman Melville also was on a whaling ship. Joan Druett also speculates that Herman Melville and the Sharon may have come into contact at some point, everything else is just her assumptions, combined with what seems to be an almost obsession with Melville and his novel, and a need to somehow relate it back to every single thing that happened before, during, and after the events on the Sharon.
It got to the point where I began skipping over the sentences that mentioned anything to do with Moby Dick, because it just held zero relevance to the actual story. However, I was kind of irritated that she gave away huge spoilers of Moby Dick in this book, I understand that Moby Dick is a very old book, and many people have read it, however if you have not read it yet, again this book makes no mention of it in the description. So you do not go in thinking you're going to be reading spoilers about Moby Dick in a book about a completely different whaling ship.
You may wonder, where my actual review of the story is, since so far I've just spent three paragraphs ranting about the crossover. Well that's the issue, the majority of the book is the author trying to tie together Herman Melville and the Sharon, but there is no way to tie it together, because the events that happened on the Sharon were in no way influenced or impacted by Herman Melville. An argument can be made, according to the author, that Melville was influenced by the events on the Sharon, but again this book was not supposed to be about Melville and what influenced him to write Moby Dick.
The actual story of the Sharon was interesting, however after the climax and the follow-up events, it continued on for multiple more chapters and what seemed to be an attempt to just make the book longer. There is also little in the way of actual facts, which is always an issue with these older books, but the author made it seem as though she had come across some secret as to why the story had been so covered up. However, in the back of the book where she references how she researched the story, there was no new revelation or new evidence, she took from newspaper articles written back then, journals, and then pure assumptions based on a variety of different things, some probably more accurate than others. This usually would not irritate me, I'm a big fan of the 1800s, especially shipping expeditions and voyages in the 1800s, and I know that there's a certain amount of speculation that has to go into telling these stories because record keeping was either faulty or lost. And she does tell the story in a different way than it was initially reported, I think I was just so done with the Melville crossover and so irritated at the huge spoiler that was put in for NO REASON, that I was over this story completely.
If an editor got a hold of this book, took out every single reference to Moby Dick, Pequod, Ahab, and Herman Melville, and then continued on to chop off the last couple of chapters after the events of the Sharon, it would be a much better book.
April 26, 2023
I recently read Druett’s Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World and was fascinated by how very differently the crews of the Grafton and the Invercauld handing being shipwrecked. Druett’s writing was so vivid and engaging, I immediately began to look for other books by her.
This story did not disappoint. While it is perhaps a little slow in the beginning, Druett masterfully brings the reader along with the Sharon as it sails out down the Acushnet River, through Buzzards Bay, and out to sea to hunt for whales. (Side note: I never knew how ships would release the anchor, that they would walk the ship up the line, and then as it came directly above the anchor, open the sails so that the wind would push the ship forward and release the anchor. It seems so obvious now but no one had ever described it to me before!)
What a trying time it must have been for the entire crew, to be looking so hard for the whales and rarely spotting any, when that is the whole purpose for the voyage. With no oil, the journey stretches on and on, tempers fray, and provisions run low. Add in a sadistic captain who seemed to get a thrill out of beating his underlings, and you’ve got the makings of a terrifying voyage.
It’s clear that Druett has done her research. I’m sure we will never know exactly what happened on board the Sharon the day Captain Howes Norris was brutally murdered, but at the same time, I can’t help but hear the “Cell Block Tango” reverberating in my mind (“He had it coming, he had it coming, he only had himself to blame. If you’da been there, if you’da seen it, I betcha you woulda done the same”). With all the quotes from the diaries kept by some of the men on the ship, it’s clear that Norris was a pretty sadistic and evil man, one who wanted to rule with an iron fist, and woe to anyone who crossed him.
Living in Rhode Island myself, it was interesting to see all the places named in this book that I’ve been to. And one of our favorite museums is the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which houses the panorama mentioned by Druett at the end of the book which shows the murder of Captain Norris. Had I known it was that important, and that it showed this event, I would have paid much closer attention to it. But I have seen it myself!
It’s also interesting to see how often the ships would trade communications with one another, engaging in “the gam” for hours or even days. I suppose one gets tired of the same old faces for months on end, so seeing the crew of another ship really would be exciting. Plus hearing all the references to Melville and his experiences that led him to write Moby-Dick was also fascinating.
Druett is quickly becoming one of my favorite non-fiction authors. I will definitely read more by her!
This story did not disappoint. While it is perhaps a little slow in the beginning, Druett masterfully brings the reader along with the Sharon as it sails out down the Acushnet River, through Buzzards Bay, and out to sea to hunt for whales. (Side note: I never knew how ships would release the anchor, that they would walk the ship up the line, and then as it came directly above the anchor, open the sails so that the wind would push the ship forward and release the anchor. It seems so obvious now but no one had ever described it to me before!)
What a trying time it must have been for the entire crew, to be looking so hard for the whales and rarely spotting any, when that is the whole purpose for the voyage. With no oil, the journey stretches on and on, tempers fray, and provisions run low. Add in a sadistic captain who seemed to get a thrill out of beating his underlings, and you’ve got the makings of a terrifying voyage.
It’s clear that Druett has done her research. I’m sure we will never know exactly what happened on board the Sharon the day Captain Howes Norris was brutally murdered, but at the same time, I can’t help but hear the “Cell Block Tango” reverberating in my mind (“He had it coming, he had it coming, he only had himself to blame. If you’da been there, if you’da seen it, I betcha you woulda done the same”). With all the quotes from the diaries kept by some of the men on the ship, it’s clear that Norris was a pretty sadistic and evil man, one who wanted to rule with an iron fist, and woe to anyone who crossed him.
Living in Rhode Island myself, it was interesting to see all the places named in this book that I’ve been to. And one of our favorite museums is the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which houses the panorama mentioned by Druett at the end of the book which shows the murder of Captain Norris. Had I known it was that important, and that it showed this event, I would have paid much closer attention to it. But I have seen it myself!
It’s also interesting to see how often the ships would trade communications with one another, engaging in “the gam” for hours or even days. I suppose one gets tired of the same old faces for months on end, so seeing the crew of another ship really would be exciting. Plus hearing all the references to Melville and his experiences that led him to write Moby-Dick was also fascinating.
Druett is quickly becoming one of my favorite non-fiction authors. I will definitely read more by her!
September 16, 2025
While there were many aspects of this book that were well-researched and well-described, I felt that the narrative severely suffered from the failure to fully discuss the implications of the racial politics of these events - it is not a happy or easy topic, but it is necessary, and the author's half-measures in describing it undermine both the true horror of the history and the flow of events in the story. Norris tortured, imprisoned, and eventually killed Babcock through prolonged, senseless violence while screaming racial slurs at him. Given that, it seems indisputable that his race played a role in Norris' cruelty. The mates and crew members, who enabled Norris' abuse and failed at multiple points to intervene, allowed it to continue so long for the same reason. Babcock was perceived as a more acceptable scapegoat for Norris' violence because he was Black.
I also felt that at multiple points the author failed in due diligence describing the history and cultures of the various Pacific Islander groups that were needed to understand the context of the story, instead falling into the pitfall of allowing them to seem mysterious, exotic, and savage. Even if this was the prevailing view of American sailors at the time, it must be understood that people of all backgrounds are simply that, people. All are as capable of intelligence, generosity, violence, and stupidity as any other. To frame Pacific Islanders as being either uniquely savage and exotic, or as innately more curious and better suited to oceanfaring (both of which were suggested in the text) falls into the trap of allowing historical perspectives to be passively justified without regarding them critically. Why, in fact, did the Islander crewmates kill Norris? It seems very plausible that they had become victims of Norris' violent outbursts and acted in self defense, given the account of the rest of the voyage so far. To implicate the violence of the Islanders as being savagery, while not doing the same for the violence of Norris and the mates, seems hypocritical.
I understand that there is only so much to work with when crafting a story from primary sources, but it also seems strange to me that Clough's account is presented so uncritically as the truth, and that Clough's own position and potential biases were not really considered by the author. Is there really no embellishment of heroism in his story?
Ultimately, this story is undeniably harrowing. Still, it feels like Druett sometimes pulled her punches.
I also felt that at multiple points the author failed in due diligence describing the history and cultures of the various Pacific Islander groups that were needed to understand the context of the story, instead falling into the pitfall of allowing them to seem mysterious, exotic, and savage. Even if this was the prevailing view of American sailors at the time, it must be understood that people of all backgrounds are simply that, people. All are as capable of intelligence, generosity, violence, and stupidity as any other. To frame Pacific Islanders as being either uniquely savage and exotic, or as innately more curious and better suited to oceanfaring (both of which were suggested in the text) falls into the trap of allowing historical perspectives to be passively justified without regarding them critically. Why, in fact, did the Islander crewmates kill Norris? It seems very plausible that they had become victims of Norris' violent outbursts and acted in self defense, given the account of the rest of the voyage so far. To implicate the violence of the Islanders as being savagery, while not doing the same for the violence of Norris and the mates, seems hypocritical.
I understand that there is only so much to work with when crafting a story from primary sources, but it also seems strange to me that Clough's account is presented so uncritically as the truth, and that Clough's own position and potential biases were not really considered by the author. Is there really no embellishment of heroism in his story?
Ultimately, this story is undeniably harrowing. Still, it feels like Druett sometimes pulled her punches.
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