Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick" immortalized the concept of a battling white sperm whale, but did such a creature really exist? Explorer and writer Tim Severin travelled to the islands of the Pacific to find out. From Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas archipelago to Pamilacan and Tonga, Severin compares myth with reality in a fascinating journey of discovery. Along the way he investigates the real extent of Melville's whaling experience, and unearths other potential sources for his famous story; encounters the extraordinary whale-jumpers, who even now make their living by leaping on the backs of whales to ram home their spears; and observes a retired harpooner re-enact the curious ballet of a kill - transporting himself to his youth in the process, like a shaman from a forgotten age. Travel writing and personal and historical anecdote combine to offer an exploration of one of the ocean's enduring myths.