A Whale Hunt

by Robert Sullivan

Hardcover, 2000

Status

Available

Call number

639.2

Genres

Publication

Scribner (2000), Edition: First American Edition., 288 pages

Description

When the Makah tribe of Washington state in the USA decided they wanted to reclaim their right to hunt whales, using their traditional methods, they created a storm of debate.

User reviews

LibraryThing member cblaker

I thoroughly enjoyed this book on a rather obscure topic. The story focuses on a tribe on the far western tip of Washington state. The tribe's culture was once deeply involved with hunting the whales in that area. It lost touch with this tradition for seventy or so years due to cultural shifts and

the law. The story is of a small group of mostly young men reviving that tradition and the internal and external challenges they face. I learned a lot, mostly about whaling and Melville, in the author's frequent asides. I would highly recommend this book.

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LibraryThing member kenno82

I found this book in a local second-hand bookstore. I knew nothing of the Makah tribe or the whale hunt, but knew immediately that the book would be a fascinating read. Native whaling rights in an age of vehement opposition to whaling was bound to be explosive subject matter.

The author doesn't

sensationalise the issue. He lets the story unfold at its own pace, with humour. While he undertakes his own journey, including interludes on Moby-Dick, he does not preach a particular view. The story itself demonstrates the complexities of the issues and the opposing sides. If I was to make any criticism, it would be that his description of the people involved can sometimes be overly simplistic, bordering on patronising.

In summary, this is a terrific book that makes you question your own ethics. I encourage everyone to have a read and approach the issue with an open mind.

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