Fathoms: the world in the whale

Fathoms: the world in the whale by Rebecca Giggs is a mesmerising blend of natural history, philosophy, and science that takes readers on an extraordinary journey into the depths of our oceans, guided by the enigmatic lives of whales. Giggs begins her narrative with a profound, personal encounter—a humpback whale stranded on an Australian beach. This poignant moment sparks her curiosity about how these majestic creatures are affected by the rapidly changing environment and our ever-evolving relationship with them.

With eloquent prose, Giggs delves into the complexities of whale behaviour and ecology, shedding light on their astonishing variety of vocalisations, including 'pop' songs that span vast oceanic expanses. We accompany her as she investigates the life cycle and societal structures of whales, some so elusive that they remain unnamed by science. Giggs' exploration extends beyond the natural world, examining how modern technology influences our connection with these giants of the sea and pondering the future of both whales and humanity amidst an ecological crisis.

The narrative takes readers across continents, from the shores of Australia to the whaling ships of Japan. We witness the impact of plastic pollution on marine life, confront ethical questions about wildlife conservation, and discover the profound relationships between living organisms within the marine ecosystem, all through Giggs' profoundly insightful and poetic lens.

Emulating the spirit of naturalists like Rachel Carson and thinkers like John Berger, Fathoms presents a kaleidoscopic view of one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Giggs' work stands as a testament to the beauty and interconnectivity of life on Earth, urging us to reflect on our moral obligations to the natural world.

This award-winning book has captured the attention and admiration of critics and readers alike:

"The book is a masterpiece. I am astonished that it is Giggs's first, for it reads like the work of a far more experienced author ... Giggs's exquisite prose is so striking as to be almost poetic, pulling the reader up constantly, either to savour a particularly apposite phrase, or to ponder a deep, unexpected connection. If a whale warrants a pause, then Fathoms warrants many." - Tim Flannery, The Australian

"Fathoms is perhaps the finest book written about whales since Moby Dick was published 170 years ago. It's also one of the best accounts I've ever read of the interaction, intended and unintended, between humans and other species - a work of genuinely literary imagination." - Verlyn Klinkenborg, New York Review of Books

"Widens the aperture of our attention with a literary style so stunning that the reader may forget to blink ... In a story that extends across several continents, Ms. Giggs marshals lapidary language to give the crisis a compelling voice. Her prose, like the oceans in which her subjects roam, is immersive; her sentences submerge us in a sea of sensations ... More descriptive than prescriptive concerning the plight of whales and, by implication, the health of the Earth. But as with George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant and E.B. White's Death of a Pig, Ms. Giggs, tending the final hours of a humpback on an Australian beach, reminds us that paying attention to the close of another creature's life can be its own form of moral instruction." - Danny Heitman, The Wall Street Journal

Fathoms: the world in the whale transcends traditional nature writing by encapsulating a world where science meets lyrical storytelling, making it an essential read for anyone keen to understand the profound and intricate connections between humans and the marine world.