In November 1820, the sinking of the. Along with the survival of part of her crew, thrilled and moved the US public. The year before she had set sail from Nantucket on a new whaling campaign that was scheduled to last two and a half years, sailing the South Pacific. Captained by George Pollard, the. Of the 21 crew members only 8 survived. Was inspired by this tragedy to write. One of the masterpieces of world literature. The title of the book is taken from the name given to an actual whale, “Mocha Dick”, sighted in the 19th century close to Mocha Island, off the central coast of Chile.