Capt. John Smith and the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Capt. John Smith and the Indian Princess Pocahontas. Capt. John Smith and the first exploration of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. All successful, history making achievements.Then there was Capt. John Smith "Whaler." That didn't go so well as highlighted by author Eric Jay Dolin in his latest book "Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America."As the opening episode of his 373 page treatise, Dolin uses Smith's botched whaling expedition to this continent in 1614 to lay the groundwork for tracing the growth and decline of one of this nation's most lucrative early industries from its commencement in revolutionary 18th century to its demise at the dawning of the 20th century. It spawned more than 700 ships and produced products from lantern oil to women's corsets.
Dolin's efforts have brought forth such reviews as:
"The best history of American whaling to come along in a generation." — Nathaniel Philbrick, author of "In The Heart of the Sea & Mayflower."
"I thought I learned everything I needed to know about whaling from Melville, but I was wrong. Eric Dolin's ‘Leviathan’ exposes the rise and fall of the industry inspired by the great beasts of the deep." — Dava Sobel, author of "Longitude & Galileo's Daughter."
"Eric Jay Dolin has written a remarkable book, broad in its scope but sharp in its focus." — Michael P. Dyer, librarian and maritime historian, New Bedford Whaling Museum.
"Perfect summer reading, especially if you happen to be spending the summer by the sea." — Adam Kirsch, The New York Sun
On July 19, residents of Northern Virginia will get a chance to meet Eric Jay Dolin at Olsson's Books & Records, 106 Union St., Old Town Alexandria beginning at 7 p.m. when he comes to discuss the creation of "Leviathan" and sign copies for those who purchase it at $27.95 a copy.They will be meeting not only an accomplished author of a wide range of books but also a Ph.D. in Environmental Policy and Planning whose dissertation focused on "the role of the courts in the cleanup of Boston Harbor." With a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Brown University, Dolin received a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale. His Ph.D. is from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Born in Queens, NY, in 1961, Dolin grew up in New York and Connecticut. He became fascinated by the natural world around him, particularly the ocean, at an early age. When he left for college he had his sights set on becoming a marine biologist, or more specifically a malacologist — a seashell scientist.During his undergraduate studies those interests turned to environmental policy. That lead to a double major in biology and environmental studies and eventually his doctorate.Dolin's professional career has included jobs as a fisheries policy analyst for the National Marine Fisheries Service, program manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an environmental consultant both in the United States and United Kingdom, and an American Association for the Advancement of Science writing fellow at Business Week.In addition to his books, Dolin has written more than 60 articles for magazines, newspapers, and professional journals. He and wife Jennifer live in Marblehead, Mass., with their two children."To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme," Herman Melville, author of "Moby Dick," once proclaimed. Dolin's epic story of the "iron men in wooden boat who built an industrial empire through the pursuit of whales" meets that challenge.