This is a absorbing, discursive book about “Moby Dick”, Herman Melville, history, natural history and, yes, whales. More history than natural history, it still contains plenty of fascinating cetacean facts. Hoare concludes with a moving account of his close encounters with whales while filming the companion BBC documentary.
“The Whale” is beautifully written. I really enjoyed this one.
Full disclosure: I’ve read “Moby Dick” twice and have an Arthur Moniz print of Moby Dick’s moonlit flukes with the “Pequod” in the background hanging over my desk (see “The Chase” here).