cover image Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex

Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex

Nathaniel Philbrick. Putnam Publishing Group, $16.99 (176pp) ISBN 978-0-399-23795-9

For older readers, Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick describes a tale worthy of Ahab: on November 20, 1820, an angry sperm whale took vengeance on the men who would slay it for oil. Adapted from Philbrick's bestselling title for adults, In the Heart of the Sea, the narrative draws from primary sources, including the account of cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, who joined the crew at age 14.