06.23.08
The Bounty
For anyone who has enjoyed the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty, I recommend The Bounty, the True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander. Once I started reading it, I could barely put it down. I finished the 410-page book yesterday afternoon.
The Bounty was published in 2003. It tells the story of the famous mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789, but also delves deeper into the behind-the-scenes connections to the key members of the Bounty crew and what the circumstances were before the mutiny. Alexander exposes how family connections and friends greatly influenced the destinies of not only the Captain, Capt. Bligh, but also his crew members such as Fletcher Christian, master mate, and his shipmates, both mutineers and loyalists. I was amazed at the tangled web of family connections which obviously affected the final outcome of the courts-martial of Capt. Bligh and Peter Heywood along with Fletcher Christian’s reputation. It explains the history of the time and how world events affected the outcome of the Bounty’s purpose (to collect breadfruit trees for the purpose of transplanting them in the West Indies as a cheep yet abundant food source for the plantation slaves). Quotes from the journals of Capt. Bligh (which featured his feeling of what really happened to Capt. Cook on the Hawaiian islands) and various crew members were included in the book including letters written from several people involved with the Bounty crew and influential people such as Sir Joseph Banks. Some of these key people were involved at the outset of the Bounty voyage from how the crew members were selected to the preferential treatment during court’s-martial and for years beyond involving some of the crew members’ naval careers. Alexander goes into detail of the court’s-martial, following each mutineer’s case as it was heard in court. She follows the sentencing and the sentencing processes used explaining the differences between military and civil court cases. The lives of the crew members were followed up until their deaths, including a bit of family background of those that were known. What happened after the court’s-martial and a little of what happened to Tahiti shortly afterwards is revealed.
What happened to the rest of the Mutineers who were not apprehended is also covered, including the various versions of what really caused Fletcher Christian to lead the mutiny and how he and the rest of his crew settled on Pitcairn Island with 11 Tahitian women, 1 child, and 6 Tahitian men. But the book doesn’t stop there! We learn of the descendants of the mutineers and a little of what they were like as well.
Years ago, when I first read the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty, I found it absolutely captivating. Now about twenty years later, I read the story again, but this time with much more detail and find it even more fascinating then the first time I read it. To think that the mutiny happened over 200 years ago, yet it’s story is still so alluring is a testimony of the power of a good story! For those interested in history, particularly naval history, I highly recommend Caroline Alexander’s book, The Bounty. Apparently she is also the author of The Endurance. I think I have to get my hands on that one, too! Fascinating, fascinating. My knowledge of another corner in history has been enriched. Thank you, Caroline, for this contribution to the public. The effort and time needed to compile The Bounty was likely no small undertaking. Two thumbs up! 
Marlakins
