by Rose of Sharon Winter
synopsis
The author Herman Melville penned the book Moby Dick, hailed by many critics as the Great American Novel. This program, which is part of a series from The History Channel, takes viewers back in time to rediscover the real-life story upon which the fictional work was based. Melville drew his inspiration from the story of the misfortunes of the whaling ship the Essex, which left the port of Nantucket in 1820. Storms, high seas, and then an attack by a bull sperm whale destroyed the vessel. Archival accounts by two of the few survivors, reenactments, and commentary by historians tell the story of the strange fate of the Essex.
