How the real-life inspiration for Moby Dick surfaced on the big screen
On November 20, 1820, a Nantucket whaling ship named the Essex was on a routine expedition when it was suddenly struck by an 80-ton sperm whale in the middle of the South Pacific. The ship, which was led by a 29-year-old captain named George Pollard, Jr., was destroyed, leading the crew on an epic journey of fate, fear and cannibalism. Their tale of survival would eventually serve as inspiration for Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” The true story of the Essex has also been documented by Pulitzer Prize-nominated in his book “In the Heart of the Sea.” Fast forward nearly 200 years after the Essex disaster, and Philbrick’s book, has been adapted for the big screen. Audio, Read the article here 18:10
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