Remembering Mocha Dick, the Real Rogue White Whale Who Inspired Moby Dick

An updated repost. Melville’s masterpiece, Moby-Dick, was inspired, at least in part, by the sinking of the whaleship Essex by a sperm whale in 1820.  The fate of the Essex unquestionably supplied Melville with ending to his novel. Nevertheless, the core … Continue reading

Remembering Mocha Dick, the Real Rogue White Whale Who Inspired Moby Dick

Today in theaters in the US, the movie “In the Heart of the Sea” opens. It is based on Nathaniel Philbrick’s book, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex.  (I will be reviewing the movie tomorrow.) … Continue reading

Moby, Mocha and the Whale Ship Essex

People are often surprised to hear that Herman Melville’s masterpiece, Moby Dick, was inspired, at least in part, by the sinking of the whale ship Essex by a sperm whale.  By all accounts the sinking of the Essex  haunted  Melville  and  unquestionably supplied him with … Continue reading