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67 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bounty, September 22, 2003
I read the "Bounty Trilogy" over 40 years ago, and I never forgot the fascinating story of the Bounty. As the years passed,I read other books on the subject, including Bligh's account of the voyage and mutiny. All were interesting. Finally, we have a wonderful new book on the subject. "The Bounty" could not have been a more enjoyable, and fascinating reading experience. I am still depressed the book is finished. The book tells as true a story of the muntiny as one could expect. It was not,of course, like the old "Bounty Trilogy," but it was written as well, and told a wonderful non-fictionl account of the events. I learned more background, and the fate of the crew and others involved in the mutiny. The section on the court martial was extremely interesting. I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
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56 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A superbly well written adventure, May 25, 2004
Caroline Alexander takes a story you perhaps thought you knew-the 1789 mutiny on board the HMS Bounty-and says something new about it, in a style that is both economical, elegant, and exciting. In a first chapter that is a masterpiece of simple story-telling, she structures the fantastic story: "Captain" William Bligh (in fact, he was only a lieutenant) commanded the HMS Bounty to Tahiti, suffered the mutiny of part of his crew, and navigated a simple row-boat across many thousands of miles of the Pacific to be rescued. A second voyage, undertaken by the HMS Pandora, discovered many mutineers on a distant island, taking them into custody, only to be broken up in a terrible storm, its survivors (crew and prisoners) enduring a second open-boat voyage to safety. On return to England a length court-martial condemned many of the mutineers to death, but left unscathed young Peter Heywood, convicted but later pardoned. The traditional view of things (i.e. the one you `know' from the movie versions) has Bligh as a torturer, the famous Fletcher Christian as a defender of the ordinary sailor's rights, and Heywood as an innocent bystander. Through careful reading of seemingly every contemporary document-including every bit of the trial transcripts-Alexander subverts the story to one of privilege rebelling against authority: whereas Bligh came from a family of extremely modest means, Christian and Heywood both came from old and well-connected families who, after the courtmartial, ensured their own good names by besmirching Bligh's. This is not sensational journalism but careful scholarship, and even if you don't agree with Alexander's `take' on the subject, you will enjoy hearing the sailor's own first-person narratives, as well as Alexander's careful reconstruction of what actually occurred. This book was nominated for the National Book Critic's Circle award for non-fiction; it was richly deserved. "HMS Bounty" receives my highest endorsement as well!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bounty Of Details, May 17, 2006
"The Bounty" by Caroline Alexander, is not only a thoroughly researched book about the infamous mutiny at sea that took place well over 200 years ago, but the story is told in a way that will keep you turning the pages as if you were reading a captivating adventure novel. I was most impressed by this account of the events, and learned new and interesting details in every chapter.
From logs and journals, personal letters, court martial records,and many other reliable sources, Alexander pieces together the story, and makes it an exciting read, From the planning stages of sending a crew for Breadfruit, to events transpiring at sea, the mutiny itself, Bligh and his loyalists dangerous but miraculous sea voyage home, the search and capture of the mutineers, the court martials, the consequences,and events and people pertaining to the years of aftermath,the events unfold in remarkable detail .
Everyone involved, including not only the ship's company, but the natives of 'Ohtaheite'(Tahiti), the families of all involved, the Sea Captains that made up the jury, and even the descendants of the mutineers, come to life with Alexander's detailed descriptions of their characters.
The story is a complex one, and as with most stories, there is more then one side. Was Bligh really a monster? Perhaps no one will ever know which side is the more accurate, but through testimony of the court martial and personal writings and quotations, we get a good look at what took place and a good idea of why it happened. The Author makes the maze of the people and places easy to follow. Included to refer to while reading is a complete list of the ship's company, denoting who were mutineers, and which loyalists were detained with them. Charts following the various journeys indicating the routes and pictures of portraits of nearly everyone important to the case are shown, as well as drawings and paintings made of the islands and the natives(even the descendants of the mutineers).
A most enjoyable and informative read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this famous historical event.
"I have been in Hell this fortnight past and I am determin'd to suffer it no longer"...reportedly said by Fletcher Christian as told by a witness at the court martial.....Laurie
also recommended:
South: A Memoir of the Endurance Voyage
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