In the Heart of the Sea

Philbrick has made the story of the whaleship Essex very well known, taking the explanation of their fates and incorporating it into a wider study of Nantucket Island, whaling in the early 19th Century and many other comparative stories of shipwrecks and whaling into a comprehensive book in less than 250 pages (not including notes, bibliography, acknowledgements and index).

Not only does he cover all of this, but he does it in a comprehensive way, but a way that remains sensitive to the tragedy and circumstances, yet is graphic and detailed. He quotes from scientific studies (on such topics as dehydration, starvation and psychology), from the writing of many authors on whaling, and detailed history of commerce, trade and technology.

Details of the ships history, to the crewing, provisioning and departure from Nantucket, their voyage around the Cape to the newly discovered whaling grounds - known as the Offshore Grounds - as remote as they sound, some thousand miles west of the Galapagos Islands. Here the Essex is rammed by a massive Sperm Whale bull, and it founders, the men in their small whaleboats taking shelter in the lee. From here the three whaleboats led by the Captain (George Pollard), the First Mate (Owen Chase) and the Second Mate (Matthew Joy), are to try and make their return to land.

Philbrick examines the decisions made, the journey(s) and the survival methods. He discusses the cannibalism, the mental anguish. He describes in detail what starvation and dehydration are doing the the bodies and minds of the men (see quote below). He explains the circumstances of their rescue(s). There follow details of their lives after the Essex. From the twenty one strong crew (there is a deserter prior to departing Chile) twelve die and eight men survive, in three different rescues.

Well known as the source material for Melville's Moby Dick, First Mate Owen Chase's publication telling his story of the events Narrative of the Wreck of the Whaleship Essex is one of the primary sources for Philbrick's book. Published some 150 years later, the writing of Thomas Nickerson, who was the cabin boy on board provides some alternative information. Woven with these is other source material from Nantucket sources and others.

Philbrick has done a great job of bringing all the stands together in what is a detailed book, yet a very quick read. I was particularly impressed with the way he handled the transitions from the Essex narrative to the background It has inspired me to read (again? I am not sure I finished it first time around) Moby Dick, so will add that to my 2024 target and tackle that soon.

P127

The Essex survivors had entered... the ‘cotton-mouth' phase of thirst. Saliva becomes thick and foul-tasting; the tongue clings irritatingly to the teeth and the roof of the mouth. Even though speech is difficult sufferers are often moved to complain ceaselessly about their thirst until their voices become so cracked and hoarse they can speak no more. A lump seems to form in the throat, causing the sufferer to swallow repeatedly in a vain attempt to dislodge it. Severe pain is felt in the head and neck. The face feels full due to the shrinking of the skin. Hearing is affected, and many people hallucinate.Still to come for the Essex crew were the agonies of a mouth that has ceased to produce saliva. The tongue hardens into... ‘a senseless weight, swinging on the still-soft root and striking foreignly against the teeth'. Speech becomes impossible, although the sufferers are known to moan and bellow. Next is the ‘blood sweats' phase involving ‘ a progressive mummification of the initially living body'. The tongue swells to such proportion that it squeezes past the jaws. The eyelids crack and the eyeballs begin to weep tears of blood. The throat is so swollen that breathing becomes difficult, creating an incongruous yet terrifying sensation of drowning. Finally, as the power of the sun inexorably draws the remaining moisture from the body, there is ‘living death'.