Ambassador Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 16 (2001) Winner
Nathaniel Philbrick
ネイサニエル・フィルブリック
Nathaniel Philbrick
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1956-06-11 （Boston, Massachusetts, United States）
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (raised) → Nantucket, Massachusetts (resident since 1986)
Career
- Occupations
- Author, Historian
- Active Years
- 1984-
- Affiliations
- Egan Maritime Institute (Nantucket), Nantucket Historical Association (research fellow)
- Influenced By
- Herman Melville
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | — | English | BA | 1974–1978 | United States |
| Duke University | — | American Literature | MA | 1978–1980 | United States |
Brown University
English
Degree:
BA
Period:
1974–1978
Year of Graduation:
1978
Country:
United States
First Intercollegiate All-American sailor for Brown University (1978)
Duke University
American Literature
Degree:
MA
Period:
1978–1980
Year of Graduation:
1980
Country:
United States
Attended as a James B. Duke Fellow
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | National Book Award (Nonfiction) | In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex | — | National Book Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2000 | Pulitzer Prize (finalist) | In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex | — | Pulitzer Prize | 最終候補 |
National Book Award (Nonfiction)
2000
Work:
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
Organization:
National Book Foundation
Result:
受賞
Pulitzer Prize (finalist)
2000
Work:
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
Organization:
Pulitzer Prize
Result:
最終候補
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
1999 Maritime history; Nonfiction 320 pagesA detailed reconstruction of the 1820 wreck of the whaleship Essex and the survivors' ordeal, based on primary sources, exploring survival, human choice, and maritime culture.
survivalvoyageman versus nature
Adaptations
- [Film] In the Heart of the Sea / Ron Howard (2015)
- [Television documentary] Into the Deep (American Experience) / Ric Burns (2010)
Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War
2006 American history; NonfictionExamines the Pilgrims and the founding of Plymouth Colony, focusing on religion, community, and relations with Indigenous peoples.
colonial historyreligion and community
The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn
2010 American history; Military history; NonfictionReexamines the Battle of the Little Bighorn, its participants, and its historical significance from multiple perspectives.
war and memoryleadership decisions
Bunker Hill: a City, a Siege, a Revolution
2013 American Revolutionary history; NonfictionFocuses on the Siege of Boston and the Battle of Bunker Hill, exploring the relation between urban life and war.
revolutionary historycity and war
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
2016 American Revolutionary history; Biographical nonfictionExplores the relationship between Washington and Benedict Arnold and how their choices shaped the Revolution.
leadershipbetrayal and loyalty
In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown
2018 American Revolutionary history; NonfictionAnalyzes Washington's strategy and the roles of contemporaneous leaders during the Siege of Yorktown.
strategycollaboration
Bibliography
- Yaahting: A Parody
- The Passionate Sailor
- Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People, 1602-1890
- Abram's Eyes: The Native American Legacy of Nantucket Island
- Second Wind: A Sunfish Sailor's Odyssey
- In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
- Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery: the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
- Revenge of the Whale: The True Story of the Whaleship Essex
- Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War
- The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn
- Why Read Moby Dick?
- Bunker Hill: a City, a Siege, a Revolution
- Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution
- In the Hurricane's Eye: The Genius of George Washington and the Victory at Yorktown
- Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy
Adaptations
- In the Heart of the Sea — 2015 film directed by Ron Howard
- TV specials (Dateline) and PBS American Experience documentary inspired by In the Heart of the Sea
- Bunker Hill has been optioned for a feature film by Warner Bros.; projects in development reported
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- narrative nonfictiondetailed research combining primary sources and ethnographic description
- Recurring Motifs
- voyage and maritime culturesurvival and extreme conditionsdecisions of leaders
Legacy
Nathaniel Philbrick is known for narrative nonfiction on maritime and American history; his National Book Award win and film adaptations have broadened his public impact. He is a leading voice in Nantucket history.
Museums
- Egan Maritime Institute Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Nantucket Historical Association (exhibits and archives) Nantucket, Massachusetts
Academic Societies
- Nantucket Historical Association
Archives
- Nantucket Historical Association archives (Philbrick-related materials)
In Popular Culture
- The film adaptation of In the Heart of the Sea introduced the story to mainstream film audiences
Trivia
- Named Brown University's first Intercollegiate All-American sailor in 1978.
- Won the Sunfish North Americans in 1978.
- Served as primary caregiver for his two children while freelancing and writing in his early career.