"All our experience with history should teach us, when we look back, how badly human wisdom is betrayed when it relies on itself" ~Martin Luther

Warning: the following review contains historical facts that may be considered spoilers if you desire to read this book without previous knowledge of the events.

I love to read books about people and events that I know little to nothing about.  I had certainly heard of Captain Bligh and the Mutiny on the Bounty, but that was the extent of my knowledge.  I have never seen any of the movies so I didn't know the reasons for the mutiny.  This book is a thorough examination of not only the mutiny but what happened before and after the historic event.

The commonly accepted reason for the mutiny was Bligh's "harsh tongue and unfair treatment of his crew"; however, the author does an exceptional job of disproving this theory.  Below are some interesting things I learned while reading the book:

- Bligh served as master on one of Captain James Cook's voyages.  Cook was the most highly regarded royal naval officer of his day.
- Bligh was on the expedition where Cook was murdered by the natives in Hawaii.
- The primary purpose of the voyage was to acquire breadfruit specimens from Tahiti.
- Life on the seas at the time was very regimented, strict, and difficult.  It was not an easy life.  Bligh did indeed flog people for insubordination; however, Alexander does an excellent job of showing that if anything he was easy on his men in comparison to other captains of the time.
- Bligh and his men spent nearly eight months in Tahiti tending the breadfruit nursery and waiting for fairer weather.
- Bligh's crew loved life on Tahiti and many of the men added the traditional Tahitian tattoos and became enamored with the women and the freedom of the islands.
- The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian.  The author argues that the primary reason for the mutiny was due to many of the men desiring to return to Tahiti.
- They put Bligh and the men loyal to him in a small boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  The boat was very heavy laden and appeared dangerously close to sinking.  There were men that wanted to join the captain but were not allowed due to the skills they possessed.
- The penalty for mutiny at the time was death by hanging.
- Bligh and his men were able to get their boat to safety and many thought it was the most amazing open boat voyage of its day. Many of them were able to make it back to England.
- A ship was sent to Tahiti to apprehend the mutineers.  Many of the mutineers were in Tahiti; however, the primary players in the revolt had left on the Bounty and for decades it was unknown where they went.
- The ship bringing the mutineers back to England shipwrecked.  Some of the prisoners died.  The remaining nine were succesfully brought to England for trial.
- There were four mutineers that were fingered by Bligh as innocent.  After the trial they were released.  Five of the mutineers were found guily and sentenced to hang.  Two of the men were pardoned by the king thanks to their connections and family's money.  The other three were hung. Much of the book is focused on Peter Heywood, one of the two pardoned prisoners. It really is unclear who is innocent and who is guilty.  Everyone had a different story of the event.  The worst offenders were somewhere free and here were the not-so-innocent bystanders that were being put to death.  Injustice is a primary thread throughout the book.
- Chistian and some of his loyal friends picked up their women and a few men in Tahiti and sailed to a remote uncharted island called Pitcairn.  There the mutineers(all but one) were all killed by Tahitian men who were being treated as prisoners. The descendents and the last mutineer were discovered years later by Americans who helped solve the mystery of what happened to the remaining mutineers.
- Since that time in many ways Christian was heralded as a man that overthrew the tyrant.  Many saw him as a hero and his family back home helped to build his reputation and in the meantime disparaged Bligh.

The above bullet points are all for my benefit since I have such a terrible memory.

I would recommend this book if you are curious about the Mutiny on the Bounty. It does take a little work as it can get a bit dry at times. I really enjoyed a previous book that was also written by Caroline Alexander.  That book was "The Endurance" which tells of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition and shipwreck.  It really is one of the most amazing survival stories of all time.
"All our experience with history should teach us, when we look back, how badly human wisdom is betrayed when it relies on itself" ~Martin Luther

Warning: the following review contains historical facts that may be considered spoilers if you desire to read this book without previous knowledge of the events. I love to read books about people and events that I know little to nothing about. I had certainly heard of Captain Bligh and the Mutiny on the Bounty, but that was the extent of my knowledge. I have never seen any of the movies so I didn't know the reasons for the mutiny. This book is a thorough examination of not only the mutiny but what happened before and after the historic event. The commonly accepted reason for the mutiny was Bligh's "harsh tongue and unfair treatment of his crew"; however, the author does an exceptional job of disproving this theory. Below are some interesting things I learned while reading the book:

- Bligh served as master on one of Captain James Cook's voyages. Cook was the most highly regarded royal naval officer of his day. - Bligh was on the expedition where Cook was murdered by the natives in Hawaii. - The primary purpose of the voyage was to acquire breadfruit specimens from Tahiti. - Life on the seas at the time was very regimented, strict, and difficult. It was not an easy life. Bligh did indeed flog people for insubordination; however, Alexander does an excellent job of showing that if anything he was easy on his men in comparison to other captains of the time. - Bligh and his men spent nearly eight months in Tahiti tending the breadfruit nursery and waiting for fairer weather. - Bligh's crew loved life on Tahiti and many of the men added the traditional Tahitian tattoos and became enamored with the women and the freedom of the islands. - The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian. The author argues that the primary reason for the mutiny was due to many of the men desiring to return to Tahiti. - They put Bligh and the men loyal to him in a small boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The boat was very heavy laden and appeared dangerously close to sinking. There were men that wanted to join the captain but were not allowed due to the skills they possessed. - The penalty for mutiny at the time was death by hanging. - Bligh and his men were able to get their boat to safety and many thought it was the most amazing open boat voyage of its day. Many of them were able to make it back to England. - A ship was sent to Tahiti to apprehend the mutineers. Many of the mutineers were in Tahiti; however, the primary players in the revolt had left on the Bounty and for decades it was unknown where they went. - The ship bringing the mutineers back to England shipwrecked. Some of the prisoners died. The remaining nine were succesfully brought to England for trial. - There were four mutineers that were fingered by Bligh as innocent. After the trial they were released. Five of the mutineers were found guily and sentenced to hang. Two of the men were pardoned by the king thanks to their connections and family's money. The other three were hung. Much of the book is focused on Peter Heywood, one of the two pardoned prisoners. It really is unclear who is innocent and who is guilty. Everyone had a different story of the event. The worst offenders were somewhere free and here were the not-so-innocent bystanders that were being put to death. Injustice is a primary thread throughout the book. - Chistian and some of his loyal friends picked up their women and a few men in Tahiti and sailed to a remote uncharted island called Pitcairn. There the mutineers(all but one) were all killed by Tahitian men who were being treated as prisoners. The descendents and the last mutineer were discovered years later by Americans who helped solve the mystery of what happened to the remaining mutineers. - Since that time in many ways Christian was heralded as a man that overthrew the tyrant. Many saw him as a hero and his family back home helped to build his reputation and in the meantime disparaged Bligh. The above bullet points are all for my benefit since I have such a terrible memory. I would recommend this book if you are curious about the Mutiny on the Bounty. It does take a little work as it can get a bit dry at times. I really enjoyed a previous book that was also written by Caroline Alexander. That book was "The Endurance" which tells of Shackleton's Antarctic expedition and shipwreck. It really is one of the most amazing survival stories of all time.