• In the Heart of the Sea

  • The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
  • By: Nathaniel Philbrick
  • Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
  • Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (205 ratings)

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In the Heart of the Sea  By  cover art

In the Heart of the Sea

By: Nathaniel Philbrick
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
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Publisher's summary

National Book Award winner

The ordeal of the whaleship Essex was an event as mythic in the 19th century as the sinking of the Titanic was in the 20th. In 1819, the Essex left Nantucket for the South Pacific with 20 crew members aboard. In the middle of the South Pacific the ship was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale. The crew drifted for more than 90 days in three tiny whaleboats, succumbing to weather, hunger, disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival.

Nathaniel Philbrick uses little-known documents, including a long-lost account written by the ship's cabin boy, and penetrating details about whaling and the Nantucket community to reveal the chilling events surrounding this epic maritime disaster. An intense and mesmerizing read, In the Heart of the Sea is a monumental work of history forever placing the Essex tragedy in the American historical canon.

©2000 Nathaniel Philbrick (P)2000 Penguin Audiobooks
  • Abridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"Fascinating...One of our country's great adventure stories...when it comes to extremes, In the Heart of the Sea is right there." (The Wall Street Journal)

"A book that gets in your bones...Philbrick has created an eerie thriller from a centuries old tale....Scrupulously researched and eloquently written...it would have earned Melville's admiration." (The New York Times Book Review)

"[Told] with verve and authenticity...a classic tale of the sea." (San Francisco Chronicle)

What listeners say about In the Heart of the Sea

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing telling of a fantastic story!

The happenings of this incredible story which inspired Herman Melville's great classic are wonderfully told in the voice of a great artist in this audiobook. A supreme listing experience, I wish every audiobook I listened to were this great!

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Excellent

What made the experience of listening to In the Heart of the Sea the most enjoyable?

Well recorded. We listened to it while driving from Maryland to North Carolina. The story provoked much conversation.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Awestruck

As a child, we heard about a ships crew that were lost at sea & resorted to hideous cannibalism to survive.
In great detail, this is it. Great performance of difficult material.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

unreal

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Great story of human spirit

What three words best describe Edward Herrmann’s performance?

Great voice

Any additional comments?

I did not care for music, Sometimes it played as story went on.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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It was short and nice listen

I did not realize this was a abridged version. I listened to it and it was over quickly. A quick survival story that is not easily known, Philbrick uses rare journal to create a real vision of the Essex sinking. I wish it had been longer.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Moby-Dick Without All That Riveting Whale Taxonomy

This book has it all: shipwrecks, sharks, and cannibalism. And it’s all true! The Essex is the whaleship that inspired Herman Melville’s classic (and one of my favorite books), Moby-Dick, and its real-life tale is stranger than fiction. After an 80 ton sperm whale repeatedly rammed and sank their ship, 20 crew members were left stranded in three tiny boats in the middle of the ocean. Spoiler: not everyone makes it.

This book is a doozy of a page-turner, and Philbrick does an incredible job digging into all of the nuances of life before, during, and after surviving such a mind-boggling tragedy. In the Heart of the Sea is a perfect companion piece to Moby-Dick, or a great stand-alone read for anyone who’s ever wanted to read Moby-Dick but can do without all that riveting whale taxonomy.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

Great listen!
One of the best stories I've heard. Recommend the audible "unbroken" if you like this. The narrator is perfect for this book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The Best

I have read this book many times, and recently listened to it to refresh my memory for a YouTube Channel I do reviewing sailing movies (Captain Pedantic). The book is exceptional, as is Richard Hermann's reading of it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Historical Story and Narration

I started reading this book, and later saw I had audible credits and decided to listen to it. I am
So glad I did !! The story of the Essex and it’s crew inspired Melville to write Moby Dick.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Interesting

I bought this one on a whim not having much to do with or knowledge of Nantuckett or whaling. I found it very captivating and quite entertaining. The historical accounts of the surviving crew members and Nantuckett in general was a great touch to the main portion of the book. Made me want to visit the museum.

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4 people found this helpful