Synopses & Reviews
IN THE WAKE OF MADNESS is the gripping true story of one of the bloodiest mutinies of the nineteenth century, written by an award-winning maritime historian. In 1841, Massachusetts whaleship Sharon set out for the whaling grounds of the northwestern Pacific. Twelve men deserted the ship, and three Pacific Islanders joined the crew. The story of the mutiny, the murder and the ship's eventual recapture unfolds in breathless detail. An aspiring young writer of the time eagerly followed this true story: his name was Herman Melville.
About the Author
Native New Zealander JOAN DRUETT is the author of eleven books on maritime history and historical fiction. She has been the recipient of a PEN/Hubert Church Award, a Fulbright Fellowship, and the John Lyman Award for Best Book of American Maritime History. She was a consultant for the award-winning "Seafaring Women" exhibition and has appeared as a guest speaker at maritime museums across the country. While much of her research is carried out in the United States, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand, with her husband, Ron.