DiscoverThe Nantucket GamThe Tragedy of the Essex - Part 2 with Nathaniel Philbrick
The Tragedy of the Essex - Part 2 with Nathaniel Philbrick

The Tragedy of the Essex - Part 2 with Nathaniel Philbrick

Update: 2025-11-20
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In 1820, the Nantucket whaleship Essex set sail on what was meant to be a routine whaling voyage to the Pacific. Instead, it became one of history's most harrowing survival stories - and the real-life inspiration for Moby-Dick. In Part 2 of our special two part episode "The Tragedy of the Essex", we sit down with author and historian Nathaniel Philbrick, eight time New York Times bestseller and winner of the 2000 National Book Award for his iconic nonfiction book In the Heart of the Sea. We explore the connections between the story of the Essex and the Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, discuss the legacy of the Essex, and think about how these tales still resonate today. 

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The Tragedy of the Essex - Part 2 with Nathaniel Philbrick

The Tragedy of the Essex - Part 2 with Nathaniel Philbrick

The Nantucket Gam - Nantucket Historical Association