In the Heart of the Sea

The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex (National Book Award Winner)

By: Nathaniel Philbrick

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

From the author of Valiant Ambition, the riveting and critically acclaimed bestseller and major motion picture starring Chris Hemsworth, directed by Ron Howard

Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, and Brendan Gleeson star in the film based on this National Book Award–winning account of the true events behind Moby Dick.

In 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale, leaving the desperate crew to drift for more than ninety days in three tiny boats. Nathaniel Philbrick uses little-known documents and vivid details about the Nantucket whaling tradition to reveal the chilling facts of this infamous maritime disaster. In the Heart of the Sea—and its epic adaptation for the screen—will forever place the Essex tragedy in the American historical canon.

Critic reviews

A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Century

"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

"Spellbinding."—Time

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

"Nathaniel Philbrick has taken one of the most horrifying stories in maritime history and turned it into a classic....One of the most chilling books I have ever read."—Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.