| | Demon of the Waters: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Whaleship Globe (Unabridged) |  | Author: Gregory Gibson
Publisher: audible.com
Category: Book
List Price: $37.95
Buy New: $19.93
You Save: $18.02 (47%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Media: Audio Download
ASIN: B0002P0FJ4
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Product Description
Now in paperback, this gripping, horrific, resoundingly acclaimed account of the mutiny on the whaleship Globe in the South Pacific in 1825-one of the goriest incidents in American maritime history-recreates in fresh, vivid, authoritative detail a tragic episode that has achieved legendary status in seafaring lore. -The timeless appeal of dramatic nautical adventure narratives is evidenced by the ongoing success of Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea, Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm, and Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall's Mutiny on the Bounty.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Great mixture of history, adventure and tragedy. May 28, 2003
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I highly recommend this book to all who like to read about toll ships and see adventures.
Painstakingly, masterfully written, book embraces detailed description of whaling ships and their role in making many Nantuckers rich, as well as many aspects of human life during the "golden" era of whaling for oil industry. But not only this.
We have many historical details about early Pacific navigations and about competition for dominance in this region between France, Britain and Americans.
We will learn with fascination how white sailors encountered first time and clashed with other cultures and tribes of Pacific islands; also, how the toll ships were build on Nantucket Island at the beginning of the 19th century and who was involved in those projects.
And of course the main theme - gruesome events on the deck of the "Globe" and on the Mili atoll (Marshall islands), where two cultures met suddenly by surprise and got stunned - beautifully woven into the whole text.
Masterpiece, Mr. Gibson, no doubt. It should be considered as continuation of "In the Heart of the Sea".
Pick up this book and grab your highlighter!! April 1, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Grab this book! You're in for a wild ride!
Demon of the Waters stands out from the rest of the books I've found in the whaling adventure genre. Gibson's research is unsurpassed. He provides such varied information on whaling to satisfy anyone's appetite for adventure and knowledge, providing background on how he came across the story of the Globe mutiny and what he discovered during the course of his quest to get to the root of the story as well as the history of whaleship making in Nantucket's heyday. Unlike many other books of this type, the author doesn't bog you down with chapter after chapter of excruciating biographical detail of every crew member aboard the ship. He skillfully chooses to include the relevant information that is pertinent to the story. The mutiny on the Globe is strikingly depicted; the story is unfathomable and never lacks for an unexpected twist. It will haunt you for many days after you finish the book!
I much appreciated the chapters on the nitty-gritty of whaling terms and slang, and what went on step-by-step in felling a whale. Gibson merges thorough research with an incredible tale to create a must-read for any fan of whaling and adventure.
Advice to future readers: notice that the middle section of the book contains illustrations and pictures. I discovered this a little late and would have liked to have noticed it earlier to aid my understanding. I wish Gibson would have referenced them in the text. Overall, an EXCELLENT whaling book. I HIGHLY recommend it. If you enjoy true tales of whaling adventure, I also recommend Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea, Neil Hanson's The Custom of the Sea, and Robert Blackwood Robertson's Of Whales and Men.
 disappointingly thin November 17, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read a glowing review of this on Salon. Later, looking at the Amazon website, I read a less flattering editorial review. I'm not sure either reviewer actually read the book. The story that it is ostensibly about is that of the mutiny on the whaleship Globe. The author of the mutiny was a sort of 'romantic' sociopath type (they're never particularly romantic when you know enough about them) whose plan was to go ashore and make himself king of some savage tribes. This story was scandalous in America when it happened; sort of the O.J. Simpson trial of the 1820s. There are easily a half dozen or so books on the topic.
This one is by a rare book dealer who found a new manuscript relating to the mutiny; quite a lot of the book is dealing with his discovery of the new manuscript, and checking out various supporting pieces of evidence. It was the author's "find of a lifetime." He also had a fascinating interview with a tribesman of the island where the mutineer hoped to make himself king. This interview was appropos of nothing, really, but it made me happy to be an American (which is probably why it was included). Anyway, this book was quite fluffy; serves me right for buying something because Salon magazine said so. The magazine was never for mighty intellects, but post IPO, it has become pretty horrid. This book probably had the material for a couple of amusing magazine articles, but it wasn't worth the $25.
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