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In the Heart of the Sea

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In the Heart of the Sea

By: Nathaniel Philbrick
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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About this listen

The number-one best-selling, epic true-life story of one of the most notorious maritime disasters of the 19th century - now a major motion picture starring Chris Hemsworth.

The sinking of the whaleship Essex by an enraged spermwhale in the Pacific in November 1820 set in motion one of the most dramatic sea stories of all time: the 20 sailors who survived the wreck took to three small boats (one of which was again attacked by a whale), and only eight of them survived their subsequent 90-day ordeal, after resorting to cannibalising their mates.

Three months after the Essex was broken up, the whaleship Dauphin, cruising off the coast of South America, spotted a small boat in the open ocean. As they pulled alongside they saw piles of bones in the bottom of the boat, at least two skeletons’ worth, with two survivors - almost skeletons themselves - sucking the marrow from the bones of their dead shipmates.

©2000 Nathaniel Philbrick (P)2000 Penguin Audiobooks Expeditions & Discoveries World

Critic Reviews

"Utterly gripping." ( Daily Telegraph)
"As gripping as it is grissly...a cracking narrative, a complex cast of characters and a terrible moral dilemma at its heart." ( Daily Mail)
All stars
Most relevant  
I loved this book for the most part but the last couple of hours really drag on once the main part is over.

Good reader though.

Also worth a read

Mostly good

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The movie does the book no justice and makes Moby Dick look like a Disney story. This is a sad, gripping survival story that makes us realise what we can do in duress situations – an exceptionally well-researched book.

Survival At Its Greatest

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.