Customer Reviews

The Devil Himself: The Mutiny of 1800

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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.