The Whale

A dramatic retelling of the fateful last voyage of the Nantucket whaleship *Essex*. In November 1820, the *Essex* is attacked and sunk by a sperm whale, forcing the crew to take to three fragile whalers. Stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the men face a difficult decision: head for the nearest islands, a thousand miles downwind to the west, or embark on an arduous journey of nearly three thousand miles to reach the South American mainland. Fearing cannibals, they choose the latter course. After almost three months at sea, the first whaler is rescued by another whaleship, with only three men still alive. A week later, the captain's whaler is also rescued, carrying just two survivors. The third whaler is never found. The story explores human endurance and the lengths to which men will go to survive in extreme conditions.