Audiobook · read by volunteers
Fighting the Whales
R. M. Ballantyne (1825–1894)
Read by Lee Elliott · 10 chapters · 2 h 09
About the book
A boy whose father has died joins the crew of a whaling ship to earn his living and support his mother. So begins this tale of life aboard a whaler in the days of sail, a world of hard work and sudden danger. The young hero learns the trade, endures hardship, makes friends among the crew and takes part in the thrilling and terrifying chase of the whales. R. M. Ballantyne wrote many adventure stories for boys, and he believed in getting his facts right, so the book is full of details about the craft of whaling. Ten sections, read by a single volunteer, last about two hours and fifteen minutes. The story is not only a rousing adventure but also a fascinating record of an occupation and a culture that now seems very far away, and listeners will come away with a vivid impression of it.
Introduction
Robert Michael Ballantyne, who lived from 1825 to 1894, was a Scottish author of adventure stories for young readers. Among his best-known books are The Coral Island and many tales set in the frozen north and at sea. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada as a young man, and drew on that experience in some of his writing.
Fighting the Whales is a story of the whaling trade as it was practised in the days of sail. Whaling was a major industry, and it provided both wealth and terrible danger for those who took part. The book gives a picture of this life through the eyes of a young recruit.
The LibriVox recording has ten sections, with titles such as In Trouble, At Sea and Our First Battle. It runs for about two hours and is read by one volunteer. Today the book can be enjoyed as an adventure and as a historical document, bearing in mind that attitudes to whaling have changed greatly since it was written. The writing is lively and direct, with short chapters that keep the action moving. Ballantyne shows respect for the courage and skill of the crew, and he does not hide the danger and the cost of the work. Modern listeners may have mixed feelings about the subject, but as a story of a young person finding his place among rough companions, the book still has plenty of appeal.
Public domain
R. M. Ballantyne died in 1894: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text