In 1820, the whaleship Essex was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale, leaving the desperate crew to drift for more than ninety days in three tiny boats. Nathaniel Philbrick uses little-known documents and vivid details about the Nantucket whaling tradition to reveal the chilling facts of this infamous maritime disaster.

Free copies are available at the St. George Library

This event made possible in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts/The Big Read. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum & Library Services & in collaboration with Atts Midwest. Staten Island OutLOUD's yearlong events made possible in part by an Encore Award from Staten Island Arts with public funding by the NYS Council on the Arts & in partnership with Gov. Andrew Cuomo & the NYS Legislature.