From Derek Till, Bedford, Massachusetts, US
Chris Simms reviews (19 October, p 28). The sinking of the Nantucket whaler Essex by a large whale in the Pacific in 1820 is generally regarded as inspiration for . Its author, Herman Melville, was friendly with the first mate, Owen Chace, and knew the skipper, George Pollard.
Those interested in the survivors’ stories can read by Nathanial Philbrick, which won the US National Book Award for Non-fiction in 2000.
