The Whale - (P.S.) by Philip Hoare (Paperback)

About the Book

Unpredictable and amusing and informative and original, cavorting between biology, history, travel writing, and memoir. Mark KurlanskyThe Whale "by Philip Hoare is a enthralling and eye-opening literary leviathan swimming in similar bestselling waters as Cod" and The Secret Life of Lobsters." Winner of the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction, The Whale "is a lively travelogue through the history, literature, and lore of the king of the sea the remarkable mammals that we human beings have long been fascinated with, from Moby Dick "to Free Willy." Bestselling author and naturalist Bernd Heinrich calls it, a moving and extraordinary book, and Hoare s sparkling account of swimming with these incredible behemoths will delight whale and wildlife aficionados, lovers of the sea and sea stories, as well as the socially and environmentally conscious reader. "

Book Synopsis

"A love letter to the 'largest, loudest, oldest' mammal ever to have existed...exhilarating." -People Magazine

Winner of the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Nonfiction,

From his childhood fascination with the gigantic Natural History Museum model of a blue whale, to his abiding love of Moby-Dick, to his adult encounters with the living animals in the Atlantic Ocean, the acclaimed writer Philip Hoare has been obsessed with whales. The Whale is his unforgettable and moving attempt to explain why these strange and beautiful animals exert such a powerful hold on our imagination.

An enthralling and eye-opening literary leviathan swimming in similar bestselling waters as Cod and The Secret Life of Lobsters. The Whale is a lively travelogue through the history, literature, and lore of the king of the sea--the remarkable mammals that we human beings have long been fascinated with, from Moby Dick to Free Willy.

Bestselling author and naturalist Bernd Heinrich calls it, "a moving and extraordinary book," and Hoare's sparkling account of swimming with these incredible behemoths will delight whale and wildlife aficionados, lovers of the sea and sea stories, as well as the socially and environmentally conscious reader.

From the Back Cover

From his childhood fascination with the gigantic Natural History Museum model of a blue whale, to his abiding love of Moby-Dick, to his adult encounters with the living animals in the Atlantic Ocean, the acclaimed writer Philip Hoare has been obsessed with whales. The Whale is his unforgettable and moving attempt to explain why these strange and beautiful animals exert such a powerful hold on our imagination.

Review Quotes

"This is a deep book about the deep; an inspiring book about inspiring beings. . . . If you can't board a ship this week, read this book instead." - The Times (London)
"Scintillating. . . . Throughout the book, Hoare's unbridled enthusiasm for his subject is infectious. . . . This thoroughly engaging, rigorously researched and often revelatory book is a joy to read and one which Melville, surely, would have appreciated." - The Independent on Sunday
"So compelling and all-encompassing that it cast a spell on me that endured for days. . . . This is the book Hoare was born to write, a classic of its kind." - The Observer
"You don't have to love Moby Dick to love this book. But if you do, THE WHALE is probably one of the most sublime reading experiences you'll have this year." - NPR's All Things Considered
"Hoare is a splendid writer and a beguiling guide. I found the spell (he) casts powerful and difficult to shake." - Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Genius ... THE WHALE (is) a rhapsodic mediation on all things cetacean. Hoare is always on the lookout for the revealing detail. He also has a finely tuned sense of perspective and pacing." - Nathaniel Philbrick, New York Times Book Review
"This singular, magnificent book inspires both awe and shame--awe of the whales, shame of the human species that has tried to destroy them. In the end, Hoare's virtuosic sympathy for his subject makes you believe in the better angels of our nature." - Alex Ross, bestselling author of THE REST IS NOISE
"A wonderful read! And a wonder-full adventure that spans the centuries. Hoare magnificently weaves together his own experiences with stories about literary giants whose writings were inspired by whales--Melville, Hawthone, and Thoreau--and he captures the utter beauty, size, and power of the whale." - Lynne Cox, author of GRAYSON
"A wonderful read!... Hoare magnificently weaves together his own experiences with stories about literary giants whose writings were inspired by whales--Melville, Hawthone, and Thoreau--and he captures the utter beauty, size, and power of the whale." - Lynne Cox, author of GRAYSON
"[Hoare's] work is rigorous, something every serious student of whales--and, more widely conceived, of the natural world--will want to have at hand." - Washington Post
"A love letter to the 'largest, loudest, oldest' mammal ever to have existed, Brit biographer Hoare's book romps through science, history and literature to chronicle his obsession with the mighty whale. Salted with astounding facts (the calls of blue whales were one mistaken for earthquakes), this is an exhilarating valentine." - People
"A love letter to the 'largest, loudest, oldest' mammal ever to have existed....Salted with astounding facts...this is an exhilarating valentine." - People
"A maginificent monster of a book, combining a huge wealth of whale lore, zoology, literature, history, and personal account. Written with great elegance, enthusiasm, and insight it takes us on an enthralling voyage." - The Guardian
"Philip Hoare's writing is quite untrammelled by convention and opens up astonishing views at every turn." - W.G. Sebald
"Philip Hoare's THE WHALE is everything you want from a book. It is unpredictable and amusing and informative and original, cavorting between biology, history, travel writing, and memoir with an engaging sense of the subject's charisma. And the book is even handsome." - Mark Kurlansky, author of SALT and COD
"Anyone who loves the sea will love this book.. . . . A Sebald-esque triumph . . . it is one of the those books into which you can dip at random and find something interesting." - Sunday Telegraph