Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale

Biography

Murphy, Jim. 1998. Gone A-Whaling: The Lure of the Sea and the Hunt for the Great Whale. New York, NY: Clarion Books ISBN 0-395-69847-2

Plot Summary

Gone A-Whaling vividly depicts the history of whale hunting, describing the processes, uses of whale parts and how mass whale hunting has affected the species.

Critical Analysis

Jim Murphy's use of diary entries dating back from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries make this harrowing history more personable and give insight into the mind of the typical young, male whale hunter. Full of interesting facts throughout the text, Murphy also includes boxes that give detailed information about different types of whales. The depth of his research seeps through in every chapter providing the reader with every aspect of a whalers life, from what they ate to how they dismembered the whales. 

Photographs and drawings on every page give a visual history to accompany the history and support the facts. Due to the graphic nature of many of the photographs, Gone A-Whaling is best suited for those above the age of ten (with strong stomachs.) 

Review Excerpts

"Murphy structures his tale like a whaling voyage, beginning with the thrill of signing up for duty and ending with a grateful trip home. In between, he describes life and work aboard the ship, including the grisly techniques for killing, harvesting, and processing the enormous animals...Murphy occasionally scolds nineteenth-century whalers for their harsh approach, rather than explaining their lack of knowledge about the sophisticated creatures they hunted. The book is beautifully illustrated with black-and-white photos and engravings, and a sprinkling of sidebars supplies details about the most hunted whale species." -Randy Meyer, Booklist 

"With its attractive layout, decorative chapter headings, and clear readable text, Gone A-Whaling is as inviting as it is interesting and informative." -Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA, School Library Journal

Connections

*Pair with other non-fiction books about whales, how they live, different types, etc. 

*Discuss endangered species and make a list of other types of endangered species. Research organizations that aid these species and see if they offer ways for students to help their cause or get involved.