The Devil Himself: The Mutiny of 1800 [Paperback]

Dudley Pope (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Accurate, fair, thorough, and lively, this penetrating account of a mutiny and its aftermath is compiled from contemporary British documents and the dusty French naval archives. The men, the ship, and the tragic chain of events following a capture by the press-gang are described and this extraordinary 1800 mutiny is brought to life. It tells how the British crew of the Danae—a captured French corvette—mutinied, sailed the ship back to France, turned it over to Napoleon, and received a cash reward. Those who survived, hanged, and died disgraced in a far-off colonial posting are chronicled. This history is also significant in that it encouraged Dudley Pope to try his hand at fiction, resulting in theLord Ramage novels. The historical figures in this true story inspired some of the favorite fictional characters and plot elements in Pope’s novels.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dudley Pope was a naval defense correspondent for the London Evening News and the author of the 18 novels in the Lord Ramage series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McBooks Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590130359
• ISBN-13: 978-1590130353
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #943,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historical account of a most unusual mutiny, April 5, 2003

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Devil Himself: The Mutiny of 1800 (Paperback)

Author Dudley Pope has pieced together the factual events of the Mutiny of 1800 and put them into an easy to read story. Why is this particular mutiny significant? It is the only British mutiny to occur during wartime where the mutineers actually delivered the ship to the enemy.

Written in a narrative style, "The Devil Himself" clearly illustrates the naval conditions of the time. Seamen were often impressed into the naval service against their will, advancement was difficult but often given for political reasons as much as talent, flogging was common, and in the case of the Danae the quarters were small and the ceilings so low that you could not stand up at all.

A sleek ship, the Danae could overtake just about anything else on the water. What would cause the ship's crew to mutiny? Why would a mutinous crew actually deliver their ship to the enemy? Other mutinies had occurred but they resulted in better conditions for sailors, why was this one so different?

This is a fascinating read for anyone interested in historical events. Put together from the British and French Naval archives, where it is in a folder labeled Le Diable Lui-meme - The Devil Himself, it is a recommended read.