The Nantucket Reader

by Susan F. Beegel

The Nantucket Reader contains 50 selections by 43 authors, Nathaniel Philbrick; Russell Baker; Robert Mooney; David Halberstam; Nancy Thayer; Herman Melville; Ralph Waldo Emerson; and Henry David Thoreau. Each selection begins with an introduction by Beegel that explores the connection between the authors and Nantucket, the muse for their song and stories. The Nantucket Reader's 330 pages are filled with adventure, humor, mystery, horror and inspiration, which collectively tell the story of the island. It is a necessary read for any historian, any person who loves Nantucket, and any Nantucket reader.

392 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

Reviews

[Pam Barton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I expected. A blurb about an author and then a chapter from one of their books. Skimmed through a lot of it. Disappointing for the price of the book.

[John Michael McGuinness · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to Nantucket. The selections are varied and none are very long. The book divides the readings into topics, making it easy to get a good sense of one aspect of the island. The selections cover history, literature, law, african-americans, humor, whaling, etc. This books allows you to get a sense of where you may want to delve deeper into this island's amazing past and present.