The whale
Subtitle: in search of the giants of the sea
By: Philip Hoare
Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
Publisher: Ecco
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 453
ISBN-13: 9780061976216
Other titles: In search of the giants of the sea
Work titles: Leviathan, or, The whale
Description: A lively travelogue through the history, literature, and lore of the king of the sea. Since his childhood fascination with the gigantic Natural History Museum model of a blue whale, author Philip Hoare has been obsessed with whales. Journeying through human and natural history, this book is the result of his voyage of discovery into the heart of this obsession. Taking us deep into their domain, Hoare shows us these mysterious creatures as they have never been seen before--Hoare's sparkling account of swimming with these incredible behemoths will delight wildlife aficionados. And following in Ishmael's footsteps, he explores the troubled history of man and whale; visits the historic whaling locales of New Bedford, Nantucket, and the Azores; and traces the whale's cultural history from Jonah to Free Willy.--From publisher description.
Notes: Originally published as: Leviathan, or, The whale. London : Fourth Estate, 2008.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 423-428) and index.

Winner of the 2009 BBC Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction.
Table of contents: title: Soundings; title: The passage out; title: The sperm whale; title: A filthy enactment; title: Far away land; title: Sealed orders; title: The divine magnet; title: Very like a whale; title: The correct use of whales; title: The whiteness of the whale; title: The melancholy whale; title: A cold war for the whale; title: The whale watch; title: The ends of the Earth; title: The chase.