Whalers’ stories (19th century): the reasons of some editorial failures HU 07 … and successes

Odile Gannier, GREC, Antibes, France / Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France [email protected]

Nowadays it seems that some great books, published during the 19th century and dealing with cetaceans, have been immediate and complete editorial successes: Moby Dick by Melville seems to be one of the best known references – in fact, it is not exactly the case.

Literature Young adult literature: adventure novels Joseph C. HART became widely known with his novel Miriam Coffin; or, The Whale-Fisherman (1835). W. H. G. KINGSTON (London, GB, 1814-1880) wrote his first book for boys, Peter the Whaler, in 1851: he had such a success that he retired Excerpt from business and devoted himself to such kind of literature. “Our commercial and national importance cannot be supported without a navy, or our navy without commerce, and a nursery for our seamen”. (Intro- Why did it meet success? The hero is a young boy, clever and courageous. At the beginning, he is sent to sea because of being a young scamp. But his adventures lead him to wis- duction XIV) dom. The young readers can follow him in all the troubles he gets into during the voyage. “If we have succeeded in conveying a useful moral, and in showing the young No time for boring: each chapter is a new adventure (shipwreck, pirates, whaling, wintering on ice floe, escaping, and so on) and inexperienced female where the true sphere of her duties lies; […] – if we have, in any way, contributed to give to the world a just representation of the Whaling character and hazardous pursuits of the daring Whale-Fishermen, who form is only a few chapters of the novel. However it is just in the middle of the story and shows the right peak of his adventures. a race of mariners of whom we are proud; – in short, if we have afforded the He becomes “Peter The Whaler”. reader but a moiety of the pleasure in perusing some of the simple annals of Nantucket, that we have experienced in tracing them, – we shall be satisfied that our time has been spent to some good purpose : – for we have been both Jules VERNE (1828-1905), wrote a lot of extraordinary voyages, like instructed and amused, while collecting and putting together the various parts - The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras, 1866 of this tale. And here is the END OF THE «WHALE-FISHERMEN».” (p. 335) - Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, 1869-1870 Why did it meet success? - Dick Sand (A Fifteen Years old Captain), 1878 Support of national navy and experienced seamen, patriotism, admiration at Why did these novels meet success? courageous seamen, moral instruction,… and pleasure. This period is favou- Dick Sand for example is a young boy (a “fifteen years old Captain”), rable for pioneers and big game hunters. honest, efficient and courageous. The young readers can model themselves on him. Every chapter tells adventures: how exciting! Illustration by Edouard Riou, in Jules Illustration by Edouard Riou, in Jules At the same time, Verne always intends teaching some scientific matter. Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Verne, The Voyages and Adventures of What about whaling? Under the Sea, 1869-1870 Captain Hatteras, 1866 (II,21) He becomes captain because the whole crew has gone for whaling in the middle of the voyage: whaling could be not very reasonable. In Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, one of the heroes wonders if it is not stupid to kill a dugong they happen to see – and maybe shoot: it could be the very last one. But the response is: if it is the last one, actually it is as if it was already dead. But, if killing an animal, whatever its species, can save human lives, no hesitation.

Melville, Moby Dick; or the Whale Novel/Reality: the Whale Critical failure This novel was published in 1851. It was the third book written by Melville (after Typee, Omoo, Mardi), but the author never focused specifically on whaling before. “The book is not a romance, nor a treatise on Cetology. It is something The book initially received mixed then scathing reviews: according to the of both” (London Leader, Nov. 8 1851) London Athenaeum, October 25 1851, Moby Dick was «an ill-compoun- Plot The novel is partly based on reality: ded mixture of romance and matter-of-fact”. It finally led Melville to lite- “Call me Ishmael”… This first person narration tells the story of an ordinary sea- - Melville had been actually aboard the whaler Acushnet in 1841-42 as rary obscurity: (between 1876 and 1878, his American publisher Harper man who signs on with the Pequod, a whaleship commanded by Captain Ahab. a sailor: he has got a practical knowledge of whales and sailing. sold only 66 copies of Moby Dick). In fact, Ishmael soon understands that the Captain is not interested in ordinary During «gams» (social meetings of two ships on the open sea), he heard His works were increasingly relevant only in the twenties. But… in fact, whaling, but has one purpose in life: search and take revenge on an enigmatic and of whales’ attacks. even most of people who say they “know” this novel didn’t ever read it in ferocious animal, the White Whale, which bit off his leg on a former voyage. - Many chapters of the novel are dedicated to whales: natural history its entirety. Moby Dick appears in just three of the 135 chapters, but is the main figure of the and whaling science: he is undoubtedly interested in this matter. novel. He finally kills the entire crew of the Pequod, with the exception of Ishmael. - in the first chapter, Melville assesses he took a lot of observations in books: he read a lot about whales, as an autodidact. Why? - Owen Chase, first mate of the Essex wrote about the shipwreck due to a whale attack in Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distres- Moby Dick was considered as too kaleidoscopic, hybrid in genre and tone: sing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex (published in 1821). “This sea novel is a singular medley of naval observation, magazine ar- - biblical connection ticle writing, satiric reflection upon the conventionalisms of civilized life, - symbolic meaning and thoughts on human madness, good and bad, and rhapsody run mad.” (London Spectator, October 25 1851). fate, … “a coat of book-learning and mysticism” - The readers who liked whales or whaling stories were bored with Ahab’s (New York Albion, November 22 1851) madness and symbolic meaning. - Those who wanted to read adventure novels didn’t like long chapters on natural history. - Some readers who like Melville’s work don’t like whaling industry! - It is quite a lengthy book…! The Essex being struck by a Moby Dick edition - C. H. Simonds Co, 1892 Moby Dick - edition: Charles whale on November 20, 1820 A giant albino sperm whale is the dark figure of the novel. Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1902 (sketched by Thomas Nickerson)

Log books and sea reports Owen CHASE His book is said to have inspired Melville to write Moby Dick. On November 20, 1820, the Nan- tucket whaler Essex was attacked by an angry sperm whale and sank. During three months, the remainder of the crew survived in small open boats in the South Seas. The first mate, Owen Chase, told the Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex, in 1821. In spite of the whaling disaster and their terrible fate – of twenty men who escaped the Bennett, vol. II, p. 153. Scammon Scammon shipwreck, only eight survived, by eating their died shipmates – Owen Chase is nevertheless still proud of the whaling industry of Nantucket, as shown in the beginning of his account. “A spirit of adventure amongst the sons of other relatives of these immediately concerned in Conclusions it, takes possession of their minds at an early age; captivated with the tough stories of the elder When Moby Dick was published in 1851, the readers were scarce, because of its very particular conception of writing, half symbolic, half scientific seamen, and seduced, as well as the natural desire of seeing foreign countries, as by the hopes of novel; it was not young people literature. Another book describing cetaceans didn’t meet with editorial success: Scammon’s Marine mammals (1874), gain, they launch forth six or eight thousand miles from home, into years of their lives in scenes a very important account in the history of American whaling. These books describe cetaceans throughout detailed pages and are very concerned of constant peril, labour, and watchfulness. The profession is one of great ambition, and full of with science. On the contrary, novels such Kingston’s Peter the Whaler or Verne’s Twenty thousand leagues under the sea met with success, whereas honourable excitement: a tame man is never known amongst them; and the coward is marked Moby Dick and Peter the Whaler were published exactly at the same period. So, how can this difference be explained? In fact, Kingston’s and Verne’s with that peculiar aversion, that distinguishes our public naval service.” (p. 3-4). novels are ordinary adventure novels in a maritime context: the life aboard (and its hazards) is interesting enough in itself, even if the scientific Frank BULLEN, The Cruise of the «Cachalot»: Round the World After Sperm Whales, aspect is variable; Verne wrote for educational purpose, based on second hand encyclopaedic knowledge. However the interest for reel and vivid 1889. Kipling was enthusiast! accounts (like Bennett’s or Bullen’s) was great at this period (gold rush time), when big game hunting and pioneer adventure was highly prized. The readership interested in marine mammal science between 1850 and 1875 was certainly smaller. Nowadays the editorial situation has changed, Charles FROUIN published his Log-book on the whaleship “l’Espadon” (1852-1856) as a surgeon. The voyage seems to have been a failure and Frouin shows the slaughter they made, and Moby Dick, and Scammon’s Marine mammals, to a lesser extent, are greatly prized in themselves and because of their historic interest. often in vain. Frederick Debell BENNETT, Narrative of a whaling voyage round the globe, from the year 1833 to 1836. Comprising sketches of Polynesia, California, the Indian Archipe- Bibliography lago, etc. with an account of southern whales, the sperm whale fishery, and the natural history of CHASE Owen, Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex, [1821], A Ria Press Edition, 2006. the climates visited (1840). HART Joseph C., Miriam Coffin; or, The Whale-Fishermen [1835], republished by H.R. Coleman, A.L. Bancroft & Co, printers, 1872. The first part narrates his voyage, then the second part is dedicated to zoology (250 pages, about BENNETT Frederick Debell, Narrative of a whaling voyage round the globe, from the year 1833 to 1836. Comprising sketches of Polynesia, Califor- a third out of the whole book). This important part can be used for itself as a scientific report nia, the Indian Archipelago, etc. with an account of southern whales, the sperm whale fishery, and the natural history of the climates visited, London, Charles Melville SCAMMON: About The marine mammals of the northwes- Richard Bentley, 1840. tern coast of North America [1874], it was said that he “wrote one book, and it has fascinated MELVILLE Herman, Moby Dick; or the Whale, 1851. seafaring men, historians, and naturalists for 94 years.” (Introduction, p. V). But at the moment KINGSTON William Henry Giles, Peter the Whaler [1851]; Dodo Press, 2007. it was not a best-seller! However, FROUIN Charles, Log-book on the whaleship “l’Espadon” ; Journal de bord (1852-1856), chrirugien à bord du baleinier l’Espadon, France Empire, “The chief object in this work is to give as correct figures of the different species of marine mam- 1978 mals, found on the Pacific Coast of North America, as could be obtained from a careful study of VERNE Jules, The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras, illustrations by Edouard Riou [1866]; tr. Boston, James R. Osgood and Company, them from life, and numerous measurements after death, made whenever practicable. It is also 1876. my aim to give as full an account of the habits of these animals as practicable, together with such VERNE Jules, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, 1869-1870. facts in reference to their geographical distribution as have come to my knowledge.” (p. 11) VERNE Jules, Dick Sand (A Fifteen Years old Captain), 1878. The general plan of the book follows first a zoological classification (“Cetacea”, “Pinnipedia”, with SCAMMON Charles M., The marine mammals of the northwestern coast of North America, Together with an account of the American Whale-Fishery, a “Catalogue of the Cetacea” appended to this work); then he presents “The American whale- San Francisco, John H. Carmany and Co, 1874; New York, Dover Publication, 1968. fishery”. His book has been considered as very useful and complete in an era of descriptive zoo- logy. He explains all is known about the species, and adds reports of his own whaler’s experiences BULLEN Frank, The Cruise of the «Cachalot»: Round the World After Sperm Whales, 1889. to the description. PHILBRICK Nathaniel, In the Heart of the Sea. The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, Penguin, 2001.