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I have had a long-time interest in whaling and the whaling industry since touring New England maritime facilities and reading "In the Heart of the Sea" (Philbrick). "Leviathan" carefully integrates whales, whaling, whalers and the whaling industry in America into an interesting and thoughtfully composed history. It spans the botched whaling effort of Captain John Smith in 1614, to whaling's Golden Era in the mid 1800's, to its demise when the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania eclipsed the market for whale oil. At its height, whaling was the third largest industry in America. Whale oil was the main product of the industry. It was used in America and Europe primarily as a feul for lamps. It was obtained by rendering blubber that was cut from captured whales. The process was called "trying" and was carried out aboard ship in large wood-fired kettles. Once recovered, the oil was stored in wooden barrels until the end of the trip. Trips could last from one to three years, depending on the location of the hunt and population of whales in that area. Spermaceti, or sperm oil, was the next important product. It was found in the tremendous head cavity of sperm whales. Because of the premium price for spermaceti, sperm whales were preferentially hunted. Sperm oil was ladled from the head cavity and its fineness was retained by not having to go through the rendering process. It was used as a lubricant in precise and delicate instruments and sometimes as a cosmetic ingredient. Read about the rise and loss of fortunes by investors and owners; about the part whaling played in the American Revolution and Civil War; and about American whalers hunting throughout the world and Arctic. Follow how Nantucket Island, once the center of the American whaling industry, lost its prominence with political and geological changes, and how New Bedford, MA, became the surviving center. There is also a section on mutinies and murders for those who like a bit of excitement. The author includes unbelievably extensive notes, explanations and biographical references in the back of the book. I found that reading a portion of each chapter and then the notes added much in the way of flavor and an explanation of side issues that were interesting but not critical to the author's story. Flipping back and forth between chapter and notes made reading slower, but I found it worth while.Read full review
looks good but havent read it yet
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a well researched book and easy to read. Having fond memories of the New Bedford, MA whaling museum, this book is very much to my liking. Dolin's latest book is about the history of the fur trade in North America. It was so good that I bought this book.
This is the epic history of the "iron men in wooden boats" who built an industrial empire through the pursuit of whales. Eric Jay Dolin chronicles the rise of the burgeoning whaling industry to its decline as the twentieth century dawned. Containing a wealth of naturalistic detail on whales, Leviathan is the most original and stirring history of American whaling in many decades.
Awesome sauce!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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