Peter the Whaler

Peter the Whaler by W.H.G. Kingston, published in 1851, with introduction on the whaling industry in the mid-19th century by Steven Ritz-Barr (who also narrates). Whale oil was a premiere source of energy at this time and hunting was a right of passage for many young men.

Peter LeFroy is fifteen years old, but the tales are anything but adolescent tales. They are hardened sailor tales complete with life and death at every turn. On his adventure, Peter becomes a Pirate—against his will; lives with some Eskimos—who save his life; lives through on-board fires, iceberg disasters, brutal whale hunting, and falls in love with a young girl named Mary. This book is about courage and perseverance. It was one of the first in the YA genre from England and was published the same year as Melville’s Moby Dick.