---
product_id: 221221
title: "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex"
price: "VT7864"
currency: VUV
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
category: "Paperback"
url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/221221-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-the-tragedy-of-whaleship
store_origin: VU
region: Vanuatu
---
# Historical true story Epic sea adventure Classic maritime saga In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
**Price:** VT7864
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock
## Summary
> 🌊 Navigate the epic true story that defined a generation of adventurers.
## Quick Answers
- **What is this?** In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
- **How much does it cost?** VT7864 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/221221-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-the-tragedy-of-whaleship)
## Best For
- Customers looking for quality international products
## Why This Product
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns
## Key Features
- • **Rich Historical Detail:** Meticulously researched narrative bringing 19th-century whaling to life.
- • **Timeless Maritime Drama:** Dive into the gripping true story that inspired Moby Dick.
- • **Compact Paperback Format:** Perfectly portable for your daily commute or coffee break reading.
- • **Unforgettable Sea Adventure:** Experience the harrowing journey of survival on the high seas.
- • **Cultural Conversation Starter:** Join the community of readers captivated by this legendary tale.
## Overview
A compelling paperback recounting the tragic 1820 sinking of the whaleship Essex, whose story inspired Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. This edition offers a vivid, historically accurate narrative of survival, endurance, and the human spirit against the relentless ocean.
## Description
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
## Features
- Paperback
## Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #15,407 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #4 in Ship History (Books) #9 in Expeditions & Discoveries World History (Books) #60 in U.S. State & Local History |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (7,814) |
| Dimensions | 5.31 x 0.87 x 7.91 inches |
| Edition | Reissue |
| ISBN-10 | 0141001828 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0141001821 |
| Item Weight | 10.6 ounces |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 320 pages |
| Publication date | May 1, 2001 |
| Publisher | Penguin Books |
## Images
## Customer Reviews
### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars
Whaling Boats in Peril
*by C***H on Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023*
This book gave an accurate picture of the whaling industry in the early 1900s. The men on those boats were hardworking sailors harvesting the useful parts of whales far from home two to three years at a time.
### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars
When Truth Is Stranger than Fiction
*by G***N on Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023*
“With its huge scarred head halfway out of the water and its tail beating the ocean into a white-water wake more than forty feet across, the whale approached the ship at twice its original speed. . . . it was too late for a change of course. With a tremendous cracking and splintering of oak, the whale struck the ship just beneath the anchor secured at the cathead on the port bow.”A reader confronted with this description might be forgiven for assuming that it could only have come from Herman Melville’s massive 19th-century novel Moby Dick. Where else in the world would you find such an incredible, far-fetched idea as a giant whale attacking a ship? But as unlikely as it may seem, the scene is not fiction but taken from Nathaniel Philbrick’s non-fiction account of the sinking of the whaleship Essex on November 20, 1819. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, published in 2001, is a gripping and sometimes appalling rendering of the story of the first Nantucket whale ship ever to be sunk as a result of an attack by a whale (though not the last). And the original accounts of the story, spreading in the years following the event, were, in fact, the inspiration for Melville’s novel, published in 1851. The great 19th-century novelist even becomes an important thread in Philbrick’s narrative.In the Heart of the Sea is both gripping storytelling and agonizing analysis of the desperate lengths starving castaways on the high seas have gone to in history to survive. The dreadful realities of the Essex survivors during three months at sea in small boats include violent storms, deadly heat, starvation, cannibalism, drawing lots for execution, and more. Though Philbrick lays bare the suffering of the men, their courage, will to live, determination, and perseverance are inspiring. It’s easy to see why In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award. The story is gripping, the research is extensive, and the writing powerful.
### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars
What a great book
*by K***R on Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023*
After seeing an article about an Australian guy rescued at sea a friend recommended this book. The story of the whaleship Essex and the crew is amazing. I would suggest reading it.
## Frequently Bought Together
- In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
- Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
- The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party
---
## Why Shop on Desertcart?
- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews
**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/221221-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-the-tragedy-of-whaleship](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/221221-in-the-heart-of-the-sea-the-tragedy-of-whaleship)
---
*Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu*
*Store origin: VU*
*Last updated: 2026-05-12*