The Loss of the Ship Essex, Sunk by a Whale

Description

Introduction -- Suggestions for further reading -- Essex narratives: First reports -- Paddack letter -- Macy letter mate's story -- Chase's narrative of the most extraordinary and distressing shipwreck of the whale-ship Essex -- Herman Melville's annotation of chase's narrative -- Boy's story -- Nickerson's "desultory sketches" -- Nickerson's letter to Lewis -- Captain's story -- Excerpt from Ridgely's letterbook -- Excerpt from Wilkes's autobiography -- Excerpt from Tyerman and Bennet's journal -- Boatsteerer's story -- Account of the loss of the Essex -- Excerpt from the journal of the Surry -- Extracts: Memories and apocrypha -- Notes.;In 1820, the Nantucket whaleship "Essex", thousands of miles from home in the South Pacific, was rammed by an angry sperm whale. The ship sank, leaving 20 crew members floating in three small boats. The incident provided the inspiration for Melville's masterpiece, "Moby Dick". A riveting tale of history and true-life adventure, this classic edition combines first-person narratives of the doomed voyage of the whaleship with every relevant contemporary account. Introduction -- Suggestions for further reading -- Essex narratives: First reports -- Paddack letter -- Macy letter mate's story -- Chase's narrative of the most extraordinary and distressing shipwreck of the whale-ship Essex -- Herman Melville's annotation of chase's narrative -- Boy's story -- Nickerson's "desultory sketches" -- Nickerson's letter to Lewis -- Captain's story -- Excerpt from Ridgely's letterbook -- Excerpt from Wilkes's autobiography -- Excerpt from Tyerman and Bennet's journal -- Boatsteerer's story -- Account of the loss of the Essex -- Excerpt from the journal of the Surry -- Extracts: Memories and apocrypha -- Notes.