The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

The appeal of Dava Sobel's Longitude was that it illuminated a little-known piece of history through a series of captivating incidents and engaging personalities. Nathaniel Philbrick's In The Heart of the Sea certainly covers the same area, by examining the 19th-century Pacific whaling industry through the arc of the sinking of the whaleship Essex by a boisterous sperm whale. The story which inspired Herman Melville's classic, Moby Dick, has a lot going for it--derring-do, cannibalism, rescue--and Philbrick proves an amiable and well-informed narrator, providing both context and detail. We learn about the importance and mechanics of blubber production--a vital source of oil--and we get the nuts and bolts of harpooning and life onboard whalers. Neither are we spared the nitty gritty of the open boats and sucking human bones dry.

By sticking to the tried and tested Longitude formula, Philbrick has missed a slight trick or two. The epicentre of the whaling industry was Nantucket, a small island off Cape Cod; most of the whales were in the Pacific, a huge journey around the southernmost tip of America. We never learn the reason for this distance and why no one ever tried to create an alternative whaling capital somewhere nearer. Similarly, Philbrick tells us that the story of the Essex was well known to Americans for decades but he never explores how such legends fade from our consciousness. Philbrick would no doubt reply that such questions were beyond his remit and you can't exactly accuse him of skimping on his research; 50 pages of footnotes is impressive by any standards and to give him his credit he wears his learning light. Unlike many academics, he doesn't get bogged down in turgid detail and the narrative rattles along at a nice pace. And when the story line is as good as this, you can't really ask for more.--John Crace

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

A WHALE OF A TALE..., 10 May 2008
This is a first rate, well crafted work of non-fiction. The author has a gift for putting together a compelling narrative about the unusual ordeal of the whale ship, Essex, which sailed out of Nantucket and was done in on the high seas by an extremely aggressive sperm whale who attacked it. So complete was the damage that the ship sank, its crew of twenty cast adrift upon a seemingly infinite ocean to find their way back home in three small boats. This real life, unheard of attack by a whale was the basis for Herman Melville's classic work of fiction, "Moby Dick".

What the author does is ground what happened to these most unfortunate of men in the historical context of the time. He paints a picture of the milieu in which they lived. Their lives were governed entirely by the whaling industry that was the bread and butter for Nantucket Island, the whaling capital of the world.

Drawing upon narratives by some of the survivors, as well as other historical data, he paints in intricate detail what life must have been like for these men. He weaves a tapestry of early nineteenth century life on the island of Nantucket and the preeminence of whaling in the lives of those who lived there, as well as the role of the Quakers. In essence, he brings the men, who were involved in this most notorious of survival at sea stories, to life for the reader.

It is a balanced narrative. This was to be the first voyage as Captain for the democratic George Pollard, who was teamed up with a very aggressive and ambitious first mate, Owen Chase. This was later to prove to be a poor combination. Nearly a third of the crew was African-American, which was an interesting twist, arising out of the abolitionist views of the Quakers, whose views were the mainstay of Nantucket. Most of the crew was very young, the cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, being but fourteen years of age.

When the Essex was attacked while on the high seas by a gigantic, aggressive sperm whale and destroyed in the process, the story of the what happened to the crew makes for one of the most engrossing and amazing stories of survival ever to be told. Against the odds, eight of them survived their ordeal, which lasted for months. Dehydration and starvation were to drive them to a new frontier of human behavior. That threshold, however, once crossed, was one that would forever haunt those who survived. Their agonizing journey and foray into anthropophagy is chillingly chronicled.

This is a riveting and triumphant book. It is a tale richly told by a masterful storyteller, who is able to make this work of non-fiction come to life for the reader. It is simply a great book.

Superb, 02 Apr 2008
It's not often that you find a work of historical non-fiction that's as compelling as this.

While the history of the Nantucket whaling industry that starts the book may at times be a little dry, it does give some very useful background to what's to come. The account of the voyage leading up to the ship being sunk is excellent and would stand alone as a description of life abourd a whaleship of the period. What follows the sinking is a horrendous yet fascinating study of the suffering endured by the crew as they tried to navigate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in open boats.

The language is at times a bit quirky and the way some of the supporting detail is woven in is occasionally a little jarring, but as a whole it's a book that is hard to fault, and is very difficult to put down: and what an incredible tale!

Just the best, 18 Dec 2007
By far one of the best books I have ever read and truely found it difficult to put down.

Sea Epic, 10 Aug 2007
I never thought there was a recorded account of an actual sinking of a ship by a whale...how wrong I was! This is the true story of the sinking of the whale ship Essex by an 80 ton sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820. This is `thee' actual story that prompted Herman Melville to write his famous Moby Dick novel.

Having been rammed by an angry whale the Essex sank within ten minutes and its twenty one man crew took to the sea with scant provisions in three whaling boats. What follows is a four thousands mile plus sea odyssey of incredible suffering and privation. Despite some serious errors of judgement where closer landfall could have been reached such as Easter Island, Pitcairn or Tahiti...the survivors show remarkable seamanship in reaching Chile after spending a desperate three months adrift.

This is not a tale along the lines of Shackletons epic South however where all live to tell the tale of their ordeal. Only two of the three boats reach safety and only eight of the twenty one crewmen survive the journey, the remainder die a terrible death mainly from lack of food, water or from the elements. When I say `mainly', some of the occupants die by `lot' selection by their crewmates and are simply killed....you can guess what comes after that...yes you guessed it messmate cannibalism!

This is a well written explanatory book that as well as highlighting the individual characters involved also gives a good descriptive narrative of the whaling techniques and equipment of the period. The description of the boat journeys however is the coup de main as the suffering and the despair of the crew leaps out from the pages....a great read!

The real events behind stories aren't always dull, 26 Mar 2006
The sinking of the whale-ship Essex is the real life event that inspired Melville's fantastic narrative "Moby-Dick". In his book Philbrick shows that the real life happenings are almost as thrilling as the book Melville made of them.

Philbrick takes great care in setting the scene: who was who and what they did on the ship. He explains whaling in some detail. I was for example surprised to find out that five people can sail a big ship like a whaler, if needs be.

Unlike "Moby-Dick" the book concentrates less on the whaling adventures on the Essex, but more on everything that happened after the Essex was 'stove by a whale'. That is a tale of the tortured survival of a few crew members in an open boat with little to no food except for their own flesh.

Written in a very matter of fact style, but with sympathy for his protagonists, this is a very good read that is highly recommended to all people who enjoyed "Moby-Dick" or are interested in whaling.

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

A WHALE OF A TALE..., 10 May 2008
This is a first rate, well crafted work of non-fiction. The author has a gift for putting together a compelling narrative about the unusual ordeal of the whale ship, Essex, which sailed out of Nantucket and was done in on the high seas by an extremely aggressive sperm whale who attacked it. So complete was the damage that the ship sank, its crew of twenty cast adrift upon a seemingly infinite ocean to find their way back home in three small boats. This real life, unheard of attack by a whale was the basis for Herman Melville's classic work of fiction, "Moby Dick".

What the author does is ground what happened to these most unfortunate of men in the historical context of the time. He paints a picture of the milieu in which they lived. Their lives were governed entirely by the whaling industry that was the bread and butter for Nantucket Island, the whaling capital of the world.

Drawing upon narratives by some of the survivors, as well as other historical data, he paints in intricate detail what life must have been like for these men. He weaves a tapestry of early nineteenth century life on the island of Nantucket and the preeminence of whaling in the lives of those who lived there, as well as the role of the Quakers. In essence, he brings the men, who were involved in this most notorious of survival at sea stories, to life for the reader.

It is a balanced narrative. This was to be the first voyage as Captain for the democratic George Pollard, who was teamed up with a very aggressive and ambitious first mate, Owen Chase. This was later to prove to be a poor combination. Nearly a third of the crew was African-American, which was an interesting twist, arising out of the abolitionist views of the Quakers, whose views were the mainstay of Nantucket. Most of the crew was very young, the cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, being but fourteen years of age.

When the Essex was attacked while on the high seas by a gigantic, aggressive sperm whale and destroyed in the process, the story of the what happened to the crew makes for one of the most engrossing and amazing stories of survival ever to be told. Against the odds, eight of them survived their ordeal, which lasted for months. Dehydration and starvation were to drive them to a new frontier of human behavior. That threshold, however, once crossed, was one that would forever haunt those who survived. Their agonizing journey and foray into anthropophagy is chillingly chronicled.

This is a riveting and triumphant book. It is a tale richly told by a masterful storyteller, who is able to make this work of non-fiction come to life for the reader. It is simply a great book.

Superb, 02 Apr 2008
It's not often that you find a work of historical non-fiction that's as compelling as this.

While the history of the Nantucket whaling industry that starts the book may at times be a little dry, it does give some very useful background to what's to come. The account of the voyage leading up to the ship being sunk is excellent and would stand alone as a description of life abourd a whaleship of the period. What follows the sinking is a horrendous yet fascinating study of the suffering endured by the crew as they tried to navigate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in open boats.

The language is at times a bit quirky and the way some of the supporting detail is woven in is occasionally a little jarring, but as a whole it's a book that is hard to fault, and is very difficult to put down: and what an incredible tale!

Just the best, 18 Dec 2007
By far one of the best books I have ever read and truely found it difficult to put down.

Sea Epic, 10 Aug 2007
I never thought there was a recorded account of an actual sinking of a ship by a whale...how wrong I was! This is the true story of the sinking of the whale ship Essex by an 80 ton sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820. This is `thee' actual story that prompted Herman Melville to write his famous Moby Dick novel.

Having been rammed by an angry whale the Essex sank within ten minutes and its twenty one man crew took to the sea with scant provisions in three whaling boats. What follows is a four thousands mile plus sea odyssey of incredible suffering and privation. Despite some serious errors of judgement where closer landfall could have been reached such as Easter Island, Pitcairn or Tahiti...the survivors show remarkable seamanship in reaching Chile after spending a desperate three months adrift.

This is not a tale along the lines of Shackletons epic South however where all live to tell the tale of their ordeal. Only two of the three boats reach safety and only eight of the twenty one crewmen survive the journey, the remainder die a terrible death mainly from lack of food, water or from the elements. When I say `mainly', some of the occupants die by `lot' selection by their crewmates and are simply killed....you can guess what comes after that...yes you guessed it messmate cannibalism!

This is a well written explanatory book that as well as highlighting the individual characters involved also gives a good descriptive narrative of the whaling techniques and equipment of the period. The description of the boat journeys however is the coup de main as the suffering and the despair of the crew leaps out from the pages....a great read!

The real events behind stories aren't always dull, 26 Mar 2006
The sinking of the whale-ship Essex is the real life event that inspired Melville's fantastic narrative "Moby-Dick". In his book Philbrick shows that the real life happenings are almost as thrilling as the book Melville made of them.

Philbrick takes great care in setting the scene: who was who and what they did on the ship. He explains whaling in some detail. I was for example surprised to find out that five people can sail a big ship like a whaler, if needs be.

Unlike "Moby-Dick" the book concentrates less on the whaling adventures on the Essex, but more on everything that happened after the Essex was 'stove by a whale'. That is a tale of the tortured survival of a few crew members in an open boat with little to no food except for their own flesh.

Written in a very matter of fact style, but with sympathy for his protagonists, this is a very good read that is highly recommended to all people who enjoyed "Moby-Dick" or are interested in whaling.

A worthwhile addition to the Titanic story, 16 Feb 2006
Like many people, I first became interested in the work of Dr Robert Ballard when he found international recognition as part of the joint US-French expedition to locate the wreck of the Titanic in September 1985. Since this discovery, the once great ship has been visited by numerous expeditions which have served to systematically remove many of the artifacts from the site. It is this argument - whether we should salvage these artifacts now before they are lost to the sea forever or leave the site untouched as a memorial to the 1500+ people who died in April 1912 - that forms one of the central themes of this book.

Having provided an extensive photographic record of the ship in 1986, Dr Ballard’s return to the wreck site 18 years later provides him with a valuable opportunity to re-assess the current condition of the once great liner and provide a new insight into the deterioration - both natural and man-made - that has occurred in the intervening years. By looking at the past-present-future of the Titanic story and placing this in it’s proper historical and scientific context, this book takes into account many aspects that still interest people today. Subsequently, this book succeeds in providing an excellent foundation for people who are either captivated by Titanic or for those who possess an interest in underwater exploration in general. Moreover, it surpasses other works on the subject by the use of breathtaking images taken with a clarity that bears tribute to the technological advances that have occurred since it’s discovery, providing unmistakable evidence that the numerous visits by expeditions since 1986 have failed to treat the site with proper respect. Indeed, by the end of this book, the argument that the future of Titanic and other wrecks in open water should lie within international agreements, is extremely persuasive.

The fact that this book provides you with all the aspects of the Titanic story, from the disaster through to the discovery, from the technology through to the controversy, makes this a perfect accompaniment to Dr Ballard’s original book on the subject (The Discovery of the Titanic : Madison Press : 1987). Indeed, I would say that if you enjoyed the other books written by Dr Ballard that are of the same genre, (such as his expeditions to the Bismarck, Lusitania, Guadalcanal, & Midway), you will undoubtedly enjoy this book as it not only provides as an excellent addition to this collection, but also a gives a fitting update to the Titanic story as a whole.

Return to Titanic, 21 Dec 2005
The original discoverer of the wreck returns for one last time to see what effect the last 18 years of deterioration and countless dives (and silly salvage attempts) have had on the ship. As with all NGS publications, it is an excellently presented book,a lavishly illustrated record and very informative. Whatever you think of the whys and wherefores of the controversies surrounding saving the ship, Bob Ballard is the man who discovered the ship and as such, makes a strong case that we should now show some respect to the memory of the 1500 who died and now we have seen all that we are realistically going to see, we should leave the wreck to decay in peace.

Anyone who has an interest in Titanic or marine archaeology should get this book

Irish reader from Limerick,, 28 Feb 2005
Excellent book with new up to date photographs of the wreck, wonderful read for all fans of the story of titanic.

The tragedy of the Titanic has been captured in fiction, non-fiction, music, poetry, cartoons, official judicial inquiry, survivors' recollections, still photography, television shows, and film; all of the above are covered to some extent in this good and popular book. But few Titanic books match the paintings by Ken Marschall, a specialist on the subject whose work can be found in other books by the ship's discoverer, Robert Ballard, who wrote the introduction here. The photos are notable--including shots of the red-paint-stained iceberg that may have caused the sinking, the pristine ship, the sunken wreck, the people involved in the case--but Marschall's dozens of large-scale paintings really do help to dramatize and explicate moments no camera glimpsed and few eyewitnesses agree upon.

There is much to recommend the text, too. You could make a film just about Second Officer Charles Lightoller, who helped accelerate the lifeboat-launching process, saving lives; stepped off the ship's bridge into the Atlantic; was sucked down into a ventilator taking in water, vainly swimming against its suction; and then got expelled by a blast of air, like a human cannonball in a circus, and landed next to a lifeboat that had been knocked 20 feet clear of the sinking ship's deadly whirlpool by a huge ship's funnel that crashed into the waves nearby. Lightoller was marvellously clever in his courtroom interrogation by a lawyer determined to manoeuvre him into admitting blame for the disaster. There is much more history in-between the dramatic illustrations, facts both grand and trivial--if you're bent on knowing what actually happened to the dogs aboard, the answer is in this book. Definitely one of the better titles dealing with Titanic. --Tim Appelo

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

A WHALE OF A TALE..., 10 May 2008
This is a first rate, well crafted work of non-fiction. The author has a gift for putting together a compelling narrative about the unusual ordeal of the whale ship, Essex, which sailed out of Nantucket and was done in on the high seas by an extremely aggressive sperm whale who attacked it. So complete was the damage that the ship sank, its crew of twenty cast adrift upon a seemingly infinite ocean to find their way back home in three small boats. This real life, unheard of attack by a whale was the basis for Herman Melville's classic work of fiction, "Moby Dick".

What the author does is ground what happened to these most unfortunate of men in the historical context of the time. He paints a picture of the milieu in which they lived. Their lives were governed entirely by the whaling industry that was the bread and butter for Nantucket Island, the whaling capital of the world.

Drawing upon narratives by some of the survivors, as well as other historical data, he paints in intricate detail what life must have been like for these men. He weaves a tapestry of early nineteenth century life on the island of Nantucket and the preeminence of whaling in the lives of those who lived there, as well as the role of the Quakers. In essence, he brings the men, who were involved in this most notorious of survival at sea stories, to life for the reader.

It is a balanced narrative. This was to be the first voyage as Captain for the democratic George Pollard, who was teamed up with a very aggressive and ambitious first mate, Owen Chase. This was later to prove to be a poor combination. Nearly a third of the crew was African-American, which was an interesting twist, arising out of the abolitionist views of the Quakers, whose views were the mainstay of Nantucket. Most of the crew was very young, the cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, being but fourteen years of age.

When the Essex was attacked while on the high seas by a gigantic, aggressive sperm whale and destroyed in the process, the story of the what happened to the crew makes for one of the most engrossing and amazing stories of survival ever to be told. Against the odds, eight of them survived their ordeal, which lasted for months. Dehydration and starvation were to drive them to a new frontier of human behavior. That threshold, however, once crossed, was one that would forever haunt those who survived. Their agonizing journey and foray into anthropophagy is chillingly chronicled.

This is a riveting and triumphant book. It is a tale richly told by a masterful storyteller, who is able to make this work of non-fiction come to life for the reader. It is simply a great book.

Superb, 02 Apr 2008
It's not often that you find a work of historical non-fiction that's as compelling as this.

While the history of the Nantucket whaling industry that starts the book may at times be a little dry, it does give some very useful background to what's to come. The account of the voyage leading up to the ship being sunk is excellent and would stand alone as a description of life abourd a whaleship of the period. What follows the sinking is a horrendous yet fascinating study of the suffering endured by the crew as they tried to navigate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in open boats.

The language is at times a bit quirky and the way some of the supporting detail is woven in is occasionally a little jarring, but as a whole it's a book that is hard to fault, and is very difficult to put down: and what an incredible tale!

Just the best, 18 Dec 2007
By far one of the best books I have ever read and truely found it difficult to put down.

Sea Epic, 10 Aug 2007
I never thought there was a recorded account of an actual sinking of a ship by a whale...how wrong I was! This is the true story of the sinking of the whale ship Essex by an 80 ton sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820. This is `thee' actual story that prompted Herman Melville to write his famous Moby Dick novel.

Having been rammed by an angry whale the Essex sank within ten minutes and its twenty one man crew took to the sea with scant provisions in three whaling boats. What follows is a four thousands mile plus sea odyssey of incredible suffering and privation. Despite some serious errors of judgement where closer landfall could have been reached such as Easter Island, Pitcairn or Tahiti...the survivors show remarkable seamanship in reaching Chile after spending a desperate three months adrift.

This is not a tale along the lines of Shackletons epic South however where all live to tell the tale of their ordeal. Only two of the three boats reach safety and only eight of the twenty one crewmen survive the journey, the remainder die a terrible death mainly from lack of food, water or from the elements. When I say `mainly', some of the occupants die by `lot' selection by their crewmates and are simply killed....you can guess what comes after that...yes you guessed it messmate cannibalism!

This is a well written explanatory book that as well as highlighting the individual characters involved also gives a good descriptive narrative of the whaling techniques and equipment of the period. The description of the boat journeys however is the coup de main as the suffering and the despair of the crew leaps out from the pages....a great read!

The real events behind stories aren't always dull, 26 Mar 2006
The sinking of the whale-ship Essex is the real life event that inspired Melville's fantastic narrative "Moby-Dick". In his book Philbrick shows that the real life happenings are almost as thrilling as the book Melville made of them.

Philbrick takes great care in setting the scene: who was who and what they did on the ship. He explains whaling in some detail. I was for example surprised to find out that five people can sail a big ship like a whaler, if needs be.

Unlike "Moby-Dick" the book concentrates less on the whaling adventures on the Essex, but more on everything that happened after the Essex was 'stove by a whale'. That is a tale of the tortured survival of a few crew members in an open boat with little to no food except for their own flesh.

Written in a very matter of fact style, but with sympathy for his protagonists, this is a very good read that is highly recommended to all people who enjoyed "Moby-Dick" or are interested in whaling.

A worthwhile addition to the Titanic story, 16 Feb 2006
Like many people, I first became interested in the work of Dr Robert Ballard when he found international recognition as part of the joint US-French expedition to locate the wreck of the Titanic in September 1985. Since this discovery, the once great ship has been visited by numerous expeditions which have served to systematically remove many of the artifacts from the site. It is this argument - whether we should salvage these artifacts now before they are lost to the sea forever or leave the site untouched as a memorial to the 1500+ people who died in April 1912 - that forms one of the central themes of this book.

Having provided an extensive photographic record of the ship in 1986, Dr Ballard’s return to the wreck site 18 years later provides him with a valuable opportunity to re-assess the current condition of the once great liner and provide a new insight into the deterioration - both natural and man-made - that has occurred in the intervening years. By looking at the past-present-future of the Titanic story and placing this in it’s proper historical and scientific context, this book takes into account many aspects that still interest people today. Subsequently, this book succeeds in providing an excellent foundation for people who are either captivated by Titanic or for those who possess an interest in underwater exploration in general. Moreover, it surpasses other works on the subject by the use of breathtaking images taken with a clarity that bears tribute to the technological advances that have occurred since it’s discovery, providing unmistakable evidence that the numerous visits by expeditions since 1986 have failed to treat the site with proper respect. Indeed, by the end of this book, the argument that the future of Titanic and other wrecks in open water should lie within international agreements, is extremely persuasive.

The fact that this book provides you with all the aspects of the Titanic story, from the disaster through to the discovery, from the technology through to the controversy, makes this a perfect accompaniment to Dr Ballard’s original book on the subject (The Discovery of the Titanic : Madison Press : 1987). Indeed, I would say that if you enjoyed the other books written by Dr Ballard that are of the same genre, (such as his expeditions to the Bismarck, Lusitania, Guadalcanal, & Midway), you will undoubtedly enjoy this book as it not only provides as an excellent addition to this collection, but also a gives a fitting update to the Titanic story as a whole.

Return to Titanic, 21 Dec 2005
The original discoverer of the wreck returns for one last time to see what effect the last 18 years of deterioration and countless dives (and silly salvage attempts) have had on the ship. As with all NGS publications, it is an excellently presented book,a lavishly illustrated record and very informative. Whatever you think of the whys and wherefores of the controversies surrounding saving the ship, Bob Ballard is the man who discovered the ship and as such, makes a strong case that we should now show some respect to the memory of the 1500 who died and now we have seen all that we are realistically going to see, we should leave the wreck to decay in peace.

Anyone who has an interest in Titanic or marine archaeology should get this book

Irish reader from Limerick,, 28 Feb 2005
Excellent book with new up to date photographs of the wreck, wonderful read for all fans of the story of titanic.

A Titanic buff's bible, 03 Dec 2006
As a long-time student of the Titanic tragedy I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is meticulously researched, well written and wonderfully illustrated - Ken Marschall's paintings being a highlight. I have a large collection of books dealing with the Titanic, and, were I to be reduced to one,it would have be this.

"Titanic " review, 28 Nov 2003
As an avid Titanic "buff", this book has been a source of unlimited interest to me. The paintings of Ken Marschall are, without doubt, the most breathe-taking, tending to convey to the reader the beautification that Titanic was (even in her wrecked state). It is a comment that is backed by non-other than the man that found her in 1985, Robert Ballard, when he states that the picture that was drawn by Marschall was "not an artist's impression", but what he, Ballard, actually saw on the seabed.

This book is a worthy addition to for anyone interested, even in the slightest, in the Titanic.

An excellent read for those starting research!, 27 Jun 2000
After owning the book for some time, I would say it is one of the best "Titanic" books around. As a keen enthuiast, I have many books which simply "tell the story" giving no fresh approach to the disaster. The book is an essential tool for historians starting out, so I would recommend that people buy and enjoy this marvellous book. It was the first "Titanic" book I ever bought and I still go back to it every time.

A fabulous volume, a Titanic lover's dream., 06 Oct 1999
Two books I would recommend above all others for anyone wanting to read about this most fascinating of subjects. For an indepth exploration of the disaster, its causes and the world in which it happened, 'Titanic end of a dream'. For pictures and paintings this lovely volume. Amazing paintings and foldouts by Ken Marschall, giving you a 'you are there' sensation. The text by Don Lynch is elegant and informative, with intriguing little known information and controversies in 'boxes' scattered about the text to ponder over. There has been some terrible picture books rushed out to capitalise on the film. Save your money and buy this, this one and 'Titanic triumph and tragedy'. are still the market leaders.

Excellent. Never before have I read such a fantastic book., 10 Aug 1999
I have read and kept 17 books on titanic. I'm mad on the subject, and know every thing. Never have i read such a variety of research in one book. I would recomend this book - without a doubt. The illastrations were beutiful and similar to computer immagary.

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

A WHALE OF A TALE..., 10 May 2008
This is a first rate, well crafted work of non-fiction. The author has a gift for putting together a compelling narrative about the unusual ordeal of the whale ship, Essex, which sailed out of Nantucket and was done in on the high seas by an extremely aggressive sperm whale who attacked it. So complete was the damage that the ship sank, its crew of twenty cast adrift upon a seemingly infinite ocean to find their way back home in three small boats. This real life, unheard of attack by a whale was the basis for Herman Melville's classic work of fiction, "Moby Dick".

What the author does is ground what happened to these most unfortunate of men in the historical context of the time. He paints a picture of the milieu in which they lived. Their lives were governed entirely by the whaling industry that was the bread and butter for Nantucket Island, the whaling capital of the world.

Drawing upon narratives by some of the survivors, as well as other historical data, he paints in intricate detail what life must have been like for these men. He weaves a tapestry of early nineteenth century life on the island of Nantucket and the preeminence of whaling in the lives of those who lived there, as well as the role of the Quakers. In essence, he brings the men, who were involved in this most notorious of survival at sea stories, to life for the reader.

It is a balanced narrative. This was to be the first voyage as Captain for the democratic George Pollard, who was teamed up with a very aggressive and ambitious first mate, Owen Chase. This was later to prove to be a poor combination. Nearly a third of the crew was African-American, which was an interesting twist, arising out of the abolitionist views of the Quakers, whose views were the mainstay of Nantucket. Most of the crew was very young, the cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, being but fourteen years of age.

When the Essex was attacked while on the high seas by a gigantic, aggressive sperm whale and destroyed in the process, the story of the what happened to the crew makes for one of the most engrossing and amazing stories of survival ever to be told. Against the odds, eight of them survived their ordeal, which lasted for months. Dehydration and starvation were to drive them to a new frontier of human behavior. That threshold, however, once crossed, was one that would forever haunt those who survived. Their agonizing journey and foray into anthropophagy is chillingly chronicled.

This is a riveting and triumphant book. It is a tale richly told by a masterful storyteller, who is able to make this work of non-fiction come to life for the reader. It is simply a great book.

Superb, 02 Apr 2008
It's not often that you find a work of historical non-fiction that's as compelling as this.

While the history of the Nantucket whaling industry that starts the book may at times be a little dry, it does give some very useful background to what's to come. The account of the voyage leading up to the ship being sunk is excellent and would stand alone as a description of life abourd a whaleship of the period. What follows the sinking is a horrendous yet fascinating study of the suffering endured by the crew as they tried to navigate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in open boats.

The language is at times a bit quirky and the way some of the supporting detail is woven in is occasionally a little jarring, but as a whole it's a book that is hard to fault, and is very difficult to put down: and what an incredible tale!

Just the best, 18 Dec 2007
By far one of the best books I have ever read and truely found it difficult to put down.

Sea Epic, 10 Aug 2007
I never thought there was a recorded account of an actual sinking of a ship by a whale...how wrong I was! This is the true story of the sinking of the whale ship Essex by an 80 ton sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820. This is `thee' actual story that prompted Herman Melville to write his famous Moby Dick novel.

Having been rammed by an angry whale the Essex sank within ten minutes and its twenty one man crew took to the sea with scant provisions in three whaling boats. What follows is a four thousands mile plus sea odyssey of incredible suffering and privation. Despite some serious errors of judgement where closer landfall could have been reached such as Easter Island, Pitcairn or Tahiti...the survivors show remarkable seamanship in reaching Chile after spending a desperate three months adrift.

This is not a tale along the lines of Shackletons epic South however where all live to tell the tale of their ordeal. Only two of the three boats reach safety and only eight of the twenty one crewmen survive the journey, the remainder die a terrible death mainly from lack of food, water or from the elements. When I say `mainly', some of the occupants die by `lot' selection by their crewmates and are simply killed....you can guess what comes after that...yes you guessed it messmate cannibalism!

This is a well written explanatory book that as well as highlighting the individual characters involved also gives a good descriptive narrative of the whaling techniques and equipment of the period. The description of the boat journeys however is the coup de main as the suffering and the despair of the crew leaps out from the pages....a great read!

The real events behind stories aren't always dull, 26 Mar 2006
The sinking of the whale-ship Essex is the real life event that inspired Melville's fantastic narrative "Moby-Dick". In his book Philbrick shows that the real life happenings are almost as thrilling as the book Melville made of them.

Philbrick takes great care in setting the scene: who was who and what they did on the ship. He explains whaling in some detail. I was for example surprised to find out that five people can sail a big ship like a whaler, if needs be.

Unlike "Moby-Dick" the book concentrates less on the whaling adventures on the Essex, but more on everything that happened after the Essex was 'stove by a whale'. That is a tale of the tortured survival of a few crew members in an open boat with little to no food except for their own flesh.

Written in a very matter of fact style, but with sympathy for his protagonists, this is a very good read that is highly recommended to all people who enjoyed "Moby-Dick" or are interested in whaling.

A worthwhile addition to the Titanic story, 16 Feb 2006
Like many people, I first became interested in the work of Dr Robert Ballard when he found international recognition as part of the joint US-French expedition to locate the wreck of the Titanic in September 1985. Since this discovery, the once great ship has been visited by numerous expeditions which have served to systematically remove many of the artifacts from the site. It is this argument - whether we should salvage these artifacts now before they are lost to the sea forever or leave the site untouched as a memorial to the 1500+ people who died in April 1912 - that forms one of the central themes of this book.

Having provided an extensive photographic record of the ship in 1986, Dr Ballard’s return to the wreck site 18 years later provides him with a valuable opportunity to re-assess the current condition of the once great liner and provide a new insight into the deterioration - both natural and man-made - that has occurred in the intervening years. By looking at the past-present-future of the Titanic story and placing this in it’s proper historical and scientific context, this book takes into account many aspects that still interest people today. Subsequently, this book succeeds in providing an excellent foundation for people who are either captivated by Titanic or for those who possess an interest in underwater exploration in general. Moreover, it surpasses other works on the subject by the use of breathtaking images taken with a clarity that bears tribute to the technological advances that have occurred since it’s discovery, providing unmistakable evidence that the numerous visits by expeditions since 1986 have failed to treat the site with proper respect. Indeed, by the end of this book, the argument that the future of Titanic and other wrecks in open water should lie within international agreements, is extremely persuasive.

The fact that this book provides you with all the aspects of the Titanic story, from the disaster through to the discovery, from the technology through to the controversy, makes this a perfect accompaniment to Dr Ballard’s original book on the subject (The Discovery of the Titanic : Madison Press : 1987). Indeed, I would say that if you enjoyed the other books written by Dr Ballard that are of the same genre, (such as his expeditions to the Bismarck, Lusitania, Guadalcanal, & Midway), you will undoubtedly enjoy this book as it not only provides as an excellent addition to this collection, but also a gives a fitting update to the Titanic story as a whole.

Return to Titanic, 21 Dec 2005
The original discoverer of the wreck returns for one last time to see what effect the last 18 years of deterioration and countless dives (and silly salvage attempts) have had on the ship. As with all NGS publications, it is an excellently presented book,a lavishly illustrated record and very informative. Whatever you think of the whys and wherefores of the controversies surrounding saving the ship, Bob Ballard is the man who discovered the ship and as such, makes a strong case that we should now show some respect to the memory of the 1500 who died and now we have seen all that we are realistically going to see, we should leave the wreck to decay in peace.

Anyone who has an interest in Titanic or marine archaeology should get this book

Irish reader from Limerick,, 28 Feb 2005
Excellent book with new up to date photographs of the wreck, wonderful read for all fans of the story of titanic.

A Titanic buff's bible, 03 Dec 2006
As a long-time student of the Titanic tragedy I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is meticulously researched, well written and wonderfully illustrated - Ken Marschall's paintings being a highlight. I have a large collection of books dealing with the Titanic, and, were I to be reduced to one,it would have be this.

"Titanic " review, 28 Nov 2003
As an avid Titanic "buff", this book has been a source of unlimited interest to me. The paintings of Ken Marschall are, without doubt, the most breathe-taking, tending to convey to the reader the beautification that Titanic was (even in her wrecked state). It is a comment that is backed by non-other than the man that found her in 1985, Robert Ballard, when he states that the picture that was drawn by Marschall was "not an artist's impression", but what he, Ballard, actually saw on the seabed.

This book is a worthy addition to for anyone interested, even in the slightest, in the Titanic.

An excellent read for those starting research!, 27 Jun 2000
After owning the book for some time, I would say it is one of the best "Titanic" books around. As a keen enthuiast, I have many books which simply "tell the story" giving no fresh approach to the disaster. The book is an essential tool for historians starting out, so I would recommend that people buy and enjoy this marvellous book. It was the first "Titanic" book I ever bought and I still go back to it every time.

A fabulous volume, a Titanic lover's dream., 06 Oct 1999
Two books I would recommend above all others for anyone wanting to read about this most fascinating of subjects. For an indepth exploration of the disaster, its causes and the world in which it happened, 'Titanic end of a dream'. For pictures and paintings this lovely volume. Amazing paintings and foldouts by Ken Marschall, giving you a 'you are there' sensation. The text by Don Lynch is elegant and informative, with intriguing little known information and controversies in 'boxes' scattered about the text to ponder over. There has been some terrible picture books rushed out to capitalise on the film. Save your money and buy this, this one and 'Titanic triumph and tragedy'. are still the market leaders.

Excellent. Never before have I read such a fantastic book., 10 Aug 1999
I have read and kept 17 books on titanic. I'm mad on the subject, and know every thing. Never have i read such a variety of research in one book. I would recomend this book - without a doubt. The illastrations were beutiful and similar to computer immagary.

Keep your hands on this book - all the diveboat will want to read it, 09 Nov 2008
This is a superb book which provides fantastic information surrounding the major wrecks of the Red Sea. When I pulled this out of my dive bag on board a dive boat heading for the Abu Nahas reef, everyone wanted to read it. It gives outstanding insight into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of each wreck as well as valuable diving recommendations which supplement those of your dive guide. An absolute must.

The Definitive Guide to The Ship Wrecks of The Egyptian Red Sea, 24 Mar 2008
Ned Middleton has surpassed himself with this book, I have no doubt that this book will become the red sea dive guides bible and the most authoritive source on some of the best wrecks out there.

I took this book with me on the dive boat as I dived some of these wrecks, I really wish I had taken a few copies with me as absolutely everyone, especially the dive guides wanted to buy it of me.

All the wrecks are thoroughly researched and written up, with beautiful pictures and absolutely stunning artwork by Rico.

I have had the pleasure of Talking to Ned and can honestly say he is a lovely chap to know, and I await eagerly his next book.


Ultimate Reference Book for Red Sea Wrecks, 27 Nov 2007
Whether you are planning a trip to the Red Sea or you like to sit in your couch and dream about past dive trips, this book - with its extensive research and coverage - will take you there. Whether you are an avid wreck diver or not, a trip to the Red Sea is not complete without some or a lot of wreck diving. This book is a must to help you plan your trip and make the most out of your diving experience. Personally, I love to go through the pages and dream... Great Xmas gift!!!

This is one awesome book, 14 Nov 2007
This author can write. This man can take pictures and this man can put together one great book about shipwrecks. I have never seen a book like this except from the legendary Dr Robert Ballard and this author actually states that Ballard was the inspiration for this book because of the quality. If you like shipwrecks, if you like stories about shipwrecks, then this is the book for you. The illustrations are out of this world. If you were wondering what all the fuss was about with Egypt's shipwrecks - then here are all the answers. If you just wanna write a book about shipwrecks - then this is how it should be done.

I went to Sinai and dove some of these wrecks last year and a diver from England had one of these books so I bought it from him right there. Each chapter is devoted to one of the wrecks you can dive and starts with a painting as good as I ever saw. Right next to it is a picture of the original ship and all the details of size, tons and history. Then you have that spine-chilling, exciting story of how the ship got sunk. In one case all the passengers dressed for dinner. Yep, all with their Tuxedos on and the ship was aground and sinking. Then you have a description of what the wreck is like today. Then you turn the page and start all over with the next wreck. Then, when you've done all that 20 times over. You get all the info on those smaller ships like tugboats. Then you get a list of all the ships involved with those that were sunk, and names of famous shipwrecks that never even existed. Truly!



The definitive work, 13 Sep 2007
I have dived Egypt's wrecks every year for the passed 12 years sometimes twice a year. I take photos and I read up all I can find to learn all there is to learn. Some of what I have read has been rubbish because the facts in the maritime museum are different from what is written in some magazines and books. Ned Middleton doesn't make mistakes like that because he checks his facts before writing anything at all. I didn't want to spend as much as £35 on a book when I thought I knew all there was to know about these wrecks but I was wrong because I hadn't even heard of the first wreck and I thought the Zingara was the Kormorant. I learnt something about every wreck I thought I knew and then some. The bit at the back with all those ships names is great reading. Gave me an idea for taking are club out looking for something new. I still didn't pay for it though, I got it as a birthday present. Best book I ever got.

Diver magazine described this book as the definitive work on the subject. I didn't know what that meant so I looked it up. It means authoritative, ultimate, perfect, best, classic, state of the art. This book is all those things and the artwork is something Bob Ballard would have been proud of.

The strangest but greatest book i have ever read!, 29 Aug 2008
Now i'm a slow reader - and i mean really slow!. But i managed to tackle this short story book in a weekend because quite simply i couldn't put it down!. Its not the sort of book i usually go for but i saw it in a shop whilst at the seaside and liked the idea of reading some sea related short stories. I can honestly say, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years! it was fantastic!. The stories have you gripped even if they are only two pages long! i enjoyed every single one. Its funny how it starts off with stories of ghost ships and such like and then as it moves more into the future the stories change to more modern 'strange' themes like boat races and murder!. Some stories werent that strange but on the whole you read each one and go 'mmmmmm..interesting'. I loved it!.

Great little book, 04 Jan 2007
Great little book full of short stories (2-3 pages long) about mysteries of the sea. Good for 'dipping in and out of'.

The first round-the-world backpacker ?, 01 Oct 2005
Well written, especially in the earlier sections where there is perhaps more material from Dampier himself to rely upon.

I picked this up by chance needing something to keep me occupied while travelling. It is worth far more than just some airport novel. The book provides a fascinating view of the blurred reality between 17th century piracy, privateering, and defence of the realm. Moreover, it does so from the point of view of the (extra)ordinary seaman.

If your taste is for history or biography excluding footballers then this should not disappoint.

Extraordinary reading, 24 Jun 2007
I'm a bit sceptical when it comes to reading items on the most famous liner in the world, after watching the films that Hollywood churned out during the years about the disaster. I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it is gripping, enthralling and gives you an, often sad, insight into the last hours if the Titanic.

The eyewitness accounts by the survivors are well written, and are accompanied by very good illustrations. At times the book is a little too detailed, but I would recommend it to any Titanic enthusiast.

Superb starter for 10, 25 Jan 2007
As a researcher for a tv show I needed the titanic history fast. This provided it in a very entertaining way. Now I am trawling through the court transcripts but the book gave me a good sounding in the disaster. Well worth the read. I would also recomend A Night To Remember which is a fantastic book and sets out the tone of multiple narratives so well all would be cinema fans should look to the book for inspiration.

compelling, enthralling, 24 May 2004
i've been into all things titanic since seeing the film and this is a must read. it tells the story of what happened the night titanic sank through the eyes of the survivors. the details are incredible and it really brings home the scale of the tragedy.

Compelling accounts of tragedy!, 16 Aug 1999
This book gives four informative, exciting, compelling accounts of the Titanic tragedy. The Lightholler report, being the only survivor amongst the senior officers & quite liberally mentioned by the other authors, is particularly interesting. The stoic response by the vast majority of obviously doomed male passengers to the prospect of drowning in sub-zero temperature water, as they stood orderly by, or assisted in the loading of women & children in the life-boats, is quite staggering. One of the storytellers has a sad, old-fashioned tendency to describe many of the non-English speaking survivors in very disparaging terms. Indeed, Gracie quite often comes across as annoyingly pompous in his descriptions. On the other hand the short report of the surviving wirelessman is totally unstuffy & hugely readable. The inquiries' treatment of Ismay, the President of Titanic's Company & a survivor against all the odds for single males, is particularly interesting . The book also highlights some of the movie's mistakes, especially the breaking off of the stern section prior to sinking. On the whole a good book & worth buying.

riveting, but sometimes hard to read, 22 May 1999
Overall, this book was virtually impossible to put down. To hear the story of the Titanic as told by some of its survivors, puts you right there in the water with them. There are only two drawbacks to this book. The first one is that the English written in 1912's vernacular is sometimes a bit cumbersome. The second one is that Archibald Gracie's book, while interesting, sometimes gets bogged down in details. However, despite some minor drawbacks for the 90's reader, I would recommend this book for anyone with even a slight interest in the story of the Titanic beyond what we got to see in James Cameron's movie.

A WHALE OF A TALE..., 10 May 2008
This is a first rate, well crafted work of non-fiction. The author has a gift for putting together a compelling narrative about the unusual ordeal of the whale ship, Essex, which sailed out of Nantucket and was done in on the high seas by an extremely aggressive sperm whale who attacked it. So complete was the damage that the ship sank, its crew of twenty cast adrift upon a seemingly infinite ocean to find their way back home in three small boats. This real life, unheard of attack by a whale was the basis for Herman Melville's classic work of fiction, "Moby Dick".

What the author does is ground what happened to these most unfortunate of men in the historical context of the time. He paints a picture of the milieu in which they lived. Their lives were governed entirely by the whaling industry that was the bread and butter for Nantucket Island, the whaling capital of the world.

Drawing upon narratives by some of the survivors, as well as other historical data, he paints in intricate detail what life must have been like for these men. He weaves a tapestry of early nineteenth century life on the island of Nantucket and the preeminence of whaling in the lives of those who lived there, as well as the role of the Quakers. In essence, he brings the men, who were involved in this most notorious of survival at sea stories, to life for the reader.

It is a balanced narrative. This was to be the first voyage as Captain for the democratic George Pollard, who was teamed up with a very aggressive and ambitious first mate, Owen Chase. This was later to prove to be a poor combination. Nearly a third of the crew was African-American, which was an interesting twist, arising out of the abolitionist views of the Quakers, whose views were the mainstay of Nantucket. Most of the crew was very young, the cabin boy, Thomas Nickerson, being but fourteen years of age.

When the Essex was attacked while on the high seas by a gigantic, aggressive sperm whale and destroyed in the process, the story of the what happened to the crew makes for one of the most engrossing and amazing stories of survival ever to be told. Against the odds, eight of them survived their ordeal, which lasted for months. Dehydration and starvation were to drive them to a new frontier of human behavior. That threshold, however, once crossed, was one that would forever haunt those who survived. Their agonizing journey and foray into anthropophagy is chillingly chronicled.

This is a riveting and triumphant book. It is a tale richly told by a masterful storyteller, who is able to make this work of non-fiction come to life for the reader. It is simply a great book.

Superb, 02 Apr 2008
It's not often that you find a work of historical non-fiction that's as compelling as this.

While the history of the Nantucket whaling industry that starts the book may at times be a little dry, it does give some very useful background to what's to come. The account of the voyage leading up to the ship being sunk is excellent and would stand alone as a description of life abourd a whaleship of the period. What follows the sinking is a horrendous yet fascinating study of the suffering endured by the crew as they tried to navigate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in open boats.

The language is at times a bit quirky and the way some of the supporting detail is woven in is occasionally a little jarring, but as a whole it's a book that is hard to fault, and is very difficult to put down: and what an incredible tale!

Just the best, 18 Dec 2007
By far one of the best books I have ever read and truely found it difficult to put down.

Sea Epic, 10 Aug 2007
I never thought there was a recorded account of an actual sinking of a ship by a whale...how wrong I was! This is the true story of the sinking of the whale ship Essex by an 80 ton sperm whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in 1820. This is `thee' actual story that prompted Herman Melville to write his famous Moby Dick novel.

Having been rammed by an angry whale the Essex sank within ten minutes and its twenty one man crew took to the sea with scant provisions in three whaling boats. What follows is a four thousands mile plus sea odyssey of incredible suffering and privation. Despite some serious errors of judgement where closer landfall could have been reached such as Easter Island, Pitcairn or Tahiti...the survivors show remarkable seamanship in reaching Chile after spending a desperate three months adrift.

This is not a tale along the lines of Shackletons epic South however where all live to tell the tale of their ordeal. Only two of the three boats reach safety and only eight of the twenty one crewmen survive the journey, the remainder die a terrible death mainly from lack of food, water or from the elements. When I say `mainly', some of the occupants die by `lot' selection by their crewmates and are simply killed....you can guess what comes after that...yes you guessed it messmate cannibalism!

This is a well written explanatory book that as well as highlighting the individual characters involved also gives a good descriptive narrative of the whaling techniques and equipment of the period. The description of the boat journeys however is the coup de main as the suffering and the despair of the crew leaps out from the pages....a great read!

The real events behind stories aren't always dull, 26 Mar 2006
The sinking of the whale-ship Essex is the real life event that inspired Melville's fantastic narrative "Moby-Dick". In his book Philbrick shows that the real life happenings are almost as thrilling as the book Melville made of them.

Philbrick takes great care in setting the scene: who was who and what they did on the ship. He explains whaling in some detail. I was for example surprised to find out that five people can sail a big ship like a whaler, if needs be.

Unlike "Moby-Dick" the book concentrates less on the whaling adventures on the Essex, but more on everything that happened after the Essex was 'stove by a whale'. That is a tale of the tortured survival of a few crew members in an open boat with little to no food except for their own flesh.

Written in a very matter of fact style, but with sympathy for his protagonists, this is a very good read that is highly recommended to all people who enjoyed "Moby-Dick" or are interested in whaling.

A worthwhile addition to the Titanic story, 16 Feb 2006
Like many people, I first became interested in the work of Dr Robert Ballard when he found international recognition as part of the joint US-French expedition to locate the wreck of the Titanic in September 1985. Since this discovery, the once great ship has been visited by numerous expeditions which have served to systematically remove many of the artifacts from the site. It is this argument - whether we should salvage these artifacts now before they are lost to the sea forever or leave the site untouched as a memorial to the 1500+ people who died in April 1912 - that forms one of the central themes of this book.

Having provided an extensive photographic record of the ship in 1986, Dr Ballard’s return to the wreck site 18 years later provides him with a valuable opportunity to re-assess the current condition of the once great liner and provide a new insight into the deterioration - both natural and man-made - that has occurred in the intervening years. By looking at the past-present-future of the Titanic story and placing this in it’s proper historical and scientific context, this book takes into account many aspects that still interest people today. Subsequently, this book succeeds in providing an excellent foundation for people who are either captivated by Titanic or for those who possess an interest in underwater exploration in general. Moreover, it surpasses other works on the subject by the use of breathtaking images taken with a clarity that bears tribute to the technological advances that have occurred since it’s discovery, providing unmistakable evidence that the numerous visits by expeditions since 1986 have failed to treat the site with proper respect. Indeed, by the end of this book, the argument that the future of Titanic and other wrecks in open water should lie within international agreements, is extremely persuasive.

The fact that this book provides you with all the aspects of the Titanic story, from the disaster through to the discovery, from the technology through to the controversy, makes this a perfect accompaniment to Dr Ballard’s original book on the subject (The Discovery of the Titanic : Madison Press : 1987). Indeed, I would say that if you enjoyed the other books written by Dr Ballard that are of the same genre, (such as his expeditions to the Bismarck, Lusitania, Guadalcanal, & Midway), you will undoubtedly enjoy this book as it not only p