Customer Reviews
A Leviathan of a Book (boom, boom) - By: Paul Kirby, 16 Nov 2008 
Superb. Not being a fan of whales, I picked this up on a whim. But Hoare brings his topic to life like noone else. We are treated to a succession of regional histories, some personal reflections, a running treatment of Melville's Moby Dick & its context, several beautifully reproduced etchings & statistics that amaze & confound. Inevitably, given the size of the book, there are narrative sags & occasional repetitions. But this is a beautiful book that repays revisiting, not to mention dipping in & out of simply to be reminded of how awesome Leviathans reallly are.
A whaley good book - sorry! - By: Big Jim, 23 Sep 2008 
This is a heartfelt & poignant book that details the authors deep respect for these giants of the sea. Part scientific description, part history of whaling, part travelogue & with several diversions to Moby Dick, this book shatters myths yet manages to divulge loads of new facts & interesting stories. Beautifully illustrated, this an extremely well laid out book, & for a hardback, remarkably light, which I think is important as it can be read on the train.
Well worth a look for any nature lover, anyone with even a passing interest in the sea, & anyone who just wants to read a darn fine history & travel book, this must encourage you to read & help you understand Moby Dick a book I have never read but certainly intend to do so now.
