'Nantucket and the Essex' examines both the story of the infamous whaling expedition of 1820 as well as the island's ever-changing relationship with this chapter of its history. After the ramming and sinking of the ship by a sperm whale, the crew endured a months-long struggle for survival on the open ocean. Since then, Nantucketers have seen the story as a cause for embarrassment, repression, and even exploitation.