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Beyond the Bounty
From the number one bestselling author comes a swashbuckling tale of mutiny and murder in paradise . . .
Even Paradise can turn into a nightmare . . .
The Mutiny on the Bounty is the most famous uprising in naval history. Led by Fletcher Christian, a desperate crew cast sadistic Captain Bligh adrift. They swap cruelty and the lash for easy living in the island heaven of Tahiti. However, paradise turns out to have a darker side . . .
Mr Christian dies in terrible agony. The Bounty burns. Cursed by murder and treachery, the rebels’ dreams turn to nightmares, and all hope of seeing England again is lost forever.
A story of low treachery and high adventure, murder under the palm trees, trouble in paradise and a lost Eden in the South Seas.
Even Paradise can turn into a nightmare . . .
The Mutiny on the Bounty is the most famous uprising in naval history. Led by Fletcher Christian, a desperate crew cast sadistic Captain Bligh adrift. They swap cruelty and the lash for easy living in the island heaven of Tahiti. However, paradise turns out to have a darker side . . .
Mr Christian dies in terrible agony. The Bounty burns. Cursed by murder and treachery, the rebels’ dreams turn to nightmares, and all hope of seeing England again is lost forever.
A story of low treachery and high adventure, murder under the palm trees, trouble in paradise and a lost Eden in the South Seas.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2012
7 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Tony Parsons
66 books892 followersThere is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 14, 2022
Mutiny. Shipwreck. Stranded on a beautiful island. Add illiterate toothless sailors and a limited supply of rum and good luck to them.
The mutiny of The Bounty is a well known mutiny (ahh except to me…). The premise was interesting. The short story begins after the mutiny, where the mutineers find shore and begin to make a life for themselves. There is an even split of English sailors and Tahitians (strong men, beautiful women). The narration is by one of the aggressive sailors so the language is kind of pirate-y, covering the topics you would expect: power, women, fights, survival, the future.
It was a fine story. Set on Pitcairn Island. There was enough substance to remain engaged. Some phrases were repetitive. No full picture was given. Each chapter was based on an event.
2.5 stars rounded down.
The mutiny of The Bounty is a well known mutiny (ahh except to me…). The premise was interesting. The short story begins after the mutiny, where the mutineers find shore and begin to make a life for themselves. There is an even split of English sailors and Tahitians (strong men, beautiful women). The narration is by one of the aggressive sailors so the language is kind of pirate-y, covering the topics you would expect: power, women, fights, survival, the future.
It was a fine story. Set on Pitcairn Island. There was enough substance to remain engaged. Some phrases were repetitive. No full picture was given. Each chapter was based on an event.
2.5 stars rounded down.
January 31, 2021
The Mutiny on the Bounty is the most famous uprising in British naval history. 'Beyond the Bounty' is historical fiction based on the events which occurred after the mutiny and the mutineers had landed on unspoilt Pitcairn Island.
In this book Parson's strongly suggests that it was the sailor's unwillingness to give up the women that they had met in Tahiti was the real motivation for the mutiny rather than Bligh's cruelty. In the aftermath of the revolt the mutineers had an opportunity to start afresh in an idyllic environment but after the death of Fletcher Christian shortly after their arrival the remainder were unable to let go of their past prejudices which ultimately led to unrest and ultimately murder.
Parson's has obviously done his research as parts of this book is based on fact but ultimately it gives a very poor image of human nature. I read this in one go and found it a satisfying if undemanding read.
In this book Parson's strongly suggests that it was the sailor's unwillingness to give up the women that they had met in Tahiti was the real motivation for the mutiny rather than Bligh's cruelty. In the aftermath of the revolt the mutineers had an opportunity to start afresh in an idyllic environment but after the death of Fletcher Christian shortly after their arrival the remainder were unable to let go of their past prejudices which ultimately led to unrest and ultimately murder.
Parson's has obviously done his research as parts of this book is based on fact but ultimately it gives a very poor image of human nature. I read this in one go and found it a satisfying if undemanding read.
May 2, 2019
The ending was a let down.
March 29, 2018
I have heard of the mutiny on the Bounty, but know very little about it. This is a not too bad imagining of the aftermath, from the point of view of the mutineers. The author let it down a bit by repeating himself quite a few times. I would be very interested to find out more (facts) about this incident.
April 30, 2021
This was another Quick Read that I picked up to sample the writing style of a popular author. Then again, as I understand it, historical fiction isn't normally Parsons's genre. Nevertheless I found Beyond the Bounty an interesting seafaring tale.
It focuses on the history of the HMS Bounty whose crew committed mutiny against its cruel Captain Bligh in the late 18th Century. The tale picks up after they've settled on Pitcairn Island as the ship is burnt and Fletcher Christian, leader of the successful rebellion, dies. From here the viewpoint switches to that of Ned Young, an embittered lower-class Englishman who watches as his tropical paradise collapses into lust, tragedy and civil war.
Young may be the protagonist but he is far from sympathetic. Not long after Christian is dead, he makes a move on his Tahitian widow Maimiti and claims superiority over the other natives. Make no mistake: Young is a foul bastard. This seemed a rather bold choice for what is ostensibly a short book intended to encourage reluctant adult readers, but I respected up to a point. Even though the plot is less than eighty pages in length, I soon became sick of Young and wished the narrative would turn to someone more likeable such as John Adams the peace-loving Christian or the kind-hearted fiddler Isaac Martin. Then again I suppose Young provides a brutally honest insight into the ensuing conflict.
This isn't normally the kind of book that I would pick up but Parsons writes a compelling historical yarn in a very accessible way. With regards to sea-faring adventures, I get lost in talk of main sails, jibs and the like, but Beyond the Bounty takes place after all that has passed. In this way I would compare it to Lord of the Flies though it packs considerably less punch than that. Parsons writes the clash of personalities in a credible way though the action is clearly downplayed, possibly to keep to a rigid page count or suitability for a general readership.
Even so I enjoyed Beyond the Bounty well enough. Of all the Quick Reads I've read, it's one of the breakouts that I would definitely recommend to fans of maritime books based on real life voyages.
It focuses on the history of the HMS Bounty whose crew committed mutiny against its cruel Captain Bligh in the late 18th Century. The tale picks up after they've settled on Pitcairn Island as the ship is burnt and Fletcher Christian, leader of the successful rebellion, dies. From here the viewpoint switches to that of Ned Young, an embittered lower-class Englishman who watches as his tropical paradise collapses into lust, tragedy and civil war.
Young may be the protagonist but he is far from sympathetic. Not long after Christian is dead, he makes a move on his Tahitian widow Maimiti and claims superiority over the other natives. Make no mistake: Young is a foul bastard. This seemed a rather bold choice for what is ostensibly a short book intended to encourage reluctant adult readers, but I respected up to a point. Even though the plot is less than eighty pages in length, I soon became sick of Young and wished the narrative would turn to someone more likeable such as John Adams the peace-loving Christian or the kind-hearted fiddler Isaac Martin. Then again I suppose Young provides a brutally honest insight into the ensuing conflict.
This isn't normally the kind of book that I would pick up but Parsons writes a compelling historical yarn in a very accessible way. With regards to sea-faring adventures, I get lost in talk of main sails, jibs and the like, but Beyond the Bounty takes place after all that has passed. In this way I would compare it to Lord of the Flies though it packs considerably less punch than that. Parsons writes the clash of personalities in a credible way though the action is clearly downplayed, possibly to keep to a rigid page count or suitability for a general readership.
Even so I enjoyed Beyond the Bounty well enough. Of all the Quick Reads I've read, it's one of the breakouts that I would definitely recommend to fans of maritime books based on real life voyages.
July 15, 2018
Beyond the bounty is set after Mutiny on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian and all those who fled and overthrew Captain Bligh end up in the Bounty and manage to sail to an island called Pitcairn. There they try to make a life for themselves but it's not easy.
This is one sailor's story of how they survived on Pitcairn.
I've never actually read Mutiny on the Bounty. I've read excerpts from it, I've seen the movies and heard stories about it but I really enjoyed this Quickread. A moving yet fast-paced story set in the years after the Bounty reaches Pitcairn. It made me want to read the original Mutiny on the Bounty. I loved the characters and how the story was written.
Totally Recommended!
This is one sailor's story of how they survived on Pitcairn.
I've never actually read Mutiny on the Bounty. I've read excerpts from it, I've seen the movies and heard stories about it but I really enjoyed this Quickread. A moving yet fast-paced story set in the years after the Bounty reaches Pitcairn. It made me want to read the original Mutiny on the Bounty. I loved the characters and how the story was written.
Totally Recommended!
October 12, 2019
Yet another quick read this one was interesting but perhaps not so believable as some of the others therefore it lacked a little and I only gave it 3 stars. However, this does not matter with a quick read as they are read so quickly whether they are 3 or 5 stars has little real effect on the reader. Would still recommend this book as it is the story of some of those who mutinied the Bounty after the event for the next years.
April 15, 2018
I really didn’t like the style of this novella and in places it didn’t read well. Another thing was that at the beginning it says that it is the story of the man who was left alive but then told from the perspective of Ned Young with the other man only really coming into the forefront (as I read it) at the end - it just confused me.
All in all, not the best read for me as I didn’t like the tone or the main character at all - his only likeable thing is his relationship with son
All in all, not the best read for me as I didn’t like the tone or the main character at all - his only likeable thing is his relationship with son
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2023
This book was written by Tony Parsons the regular cultural critic on BBC’s Newsnight. I don’t think he is a senior lecturer in gynaecology despite the odd author name attributed here. It all ties in though as according to this story everything from the Mutiny on the Bounty to the subsequent efforts to remain shipwrecked on Pitcairn island came down to women. For our motley crew, the women are “Tahitian wives” that they wanted to stay with, rather than facing justice in a British court.
February 15, 2024
I appreciate Mr. Parson's efforts to carry on the tale that begain with "Mutiny...", and it's sequels, is a slightly different direction.
Though this has spoiled somewhat "Mutiny..." because I have not read it yet, I was already aware of it and the basic outline of the story itself, it gives me an idea of how the story will build up to it's conclusion.
Though this has spoiled somewhat "Mutiny..." because I have not read it yet, I was already aware of it and the basic outline of the story itself, it gives me an idea of how the story will build up to it's conclusion.
December 31, 2017
A good quick little novella about the mutineers who overthrew the sadistic Captain Bligh, that starts when they burn the Bounty. I enjoyed the beginning and the end more than the middle chunk. An interesting historical event that I really should read more about.
February 29, 2020
Was a little bit interesting, but was a drag overall to read. Predictable in places and a disappointing ending.
August 15, 2022
Such a boring book. Took some reading
April 27, 2023
OK bit of history
July 30, 2023
Even for a short novel,it took me 2 chapters to get into it but after the initial stumble, this island based story appealed to me.
February 26, 2024
I didn't expect too much of this given that it was a quick read but I actually really enjoyed it.
March 15, 2024
Boring.
April 17, 2024
Really good short story. The charcter was interesting and complex. It's a fun small read my one complaint is that the ending did feel a little rushed but the final lines were still beautiful
February 14, 2025
A fictional account of the first days and years of Pitcairn island with some Bounty mutineers and Tahiti men and women
June 7, 2025
This book was set after the events of the Mutiny of which i ony know happened because of the films made which i have not seen. I am beginning to think that Historical Fiction is not for me.
January 1, 2022
I think I spotted some grammatical errors that need ironing out despite the book being so short.
January 2, 2014
As part of my summer reading over the Christmas break I read, Beyond the Bounty by Tony Parsons. It is part of a series called, Quick Reads. The idea being that well known authors can write a short book which gives new readers a sample of their writing style. This series is ideal for me as I am fussy about the type of fiction I read and don't like to commit to reading several hundred pages from an author I'm unsure of.
Beyond the Bounty is historical fiction based on the events which occurred after the mutiny on board the ship, The Bounty. The author, Tony Parsons, has researched the history of this incident and written a believable tale which includes many of the known facts. However the book is a very sad insight into humanity.
After spending five months in Tahiti the sailors were loathe to give up the comforts they found there – most particularly the comfort of being in a women's arms. The story strongly suggests this was this reason for the mutiny and not primarily Bligh's cruelty. Following the revolt these mutineers had the rare opportunity to start a fresh community in an idyllic environment but were unable to let go of their greed and past prejudices. This lead to an inability to work together which caused conflicts, unrest and ultimately murder.
This is a well told story which provides a poignant look at human nature.
Beyond the Bounty is historical fiction based on the events which occurred after the mutiny on board the ship, The Bounty. The author, Tony Parsons, has researched the history of this incident and written a believable tale which includes many of the known facts. However the book is a very sad insight into humanity.
After spending five months in Tahiti the sailors were loathe to give up the comforts they found there – most particularly the comfort of being in a women's arms. The story strongly suggests this was this reason for the mutiny and not primarily Bligh's cruelty. Following the revolt these mutineers had the rare opportunity to start a fresh community in an idyllic environment but were unable to let go of their greed and past prejudices. This lead to an inability to work together which caused conflicts, unrest and ultimately murder.
This is a well told story which provides a poignant look at human nature.
June 2, 2012
Only a slim little "quick read" book, and unfortunately I was rather disappointed with it. An historically inaccurate book about the lives of those on Pitcairn Island after the mutiny on The Bounty.
Maybe this is just meant to be a story "based" on the true life exploits of the mutineers, but there was so much that was wrong that it grated on my nerves somewhat.
I'm glad it was only a short book, because had it been a full sized novel I would have been forced to throw the book down and abandon it.
Maybe this is just meant to be a story "based" on the true life exploits of the mutineers, but there was so much that was wrong that it grated on my nerves somewhat.
I'm glad it was only a short book, because had it been a full sized novel I would have been forced to throw the book down and abandon it.
September 14, 2012
Well written account of a possible follow-on after the Mutiny of the Bounty. Based on the facts that are known fictional expression is given to the outcome of the sailors and their native wives and slaves on Pitcairn island. Weaving imagination skillfully with what is known a story evolves and the scenarios fit well with the researched facts.
I like the ideas to have a equal society and the "Lord of the Flies" moments that break into the paradise; a sickness born out of the souls of mutinous seaman.
I like the ideas to have a equal society and the "Lord of the Flies" moments that break into the paradise; a sickness born out of the souls of mutinous seaman.
June 4, 2013
One of the Galaxy 'Quick Read' series... and it was, just an hour that made me think about what happened after Captain Bligh was put off the Bounty.
Being short it whets the appetite but only serves up nouvelle cuisine! I shall now read the John Boyne book about the Mutiny on the Bounty to see how he deals with these real characters from history.
Being short it whets the appetite but only serves up nouvelle cuisine! I shall now read the John Boyne book about the Mutiny on the Bounty to see how he deals with these real characters from history.
January 6, 2015
It was a little bit slow and hard to get into at the start, but as the story moved on I did start to enjoy it a bit more. It's the perfect story to read on a bus or if you have a spare 15 minutes or so
October 14, 2025
I picked this book up because why not it was £1 and i read it because why not it was sat in my TBR for a while ugh I wish i never did it was boring
I get where they were trying to go with this book but it just didn’t hit for me
I get where they were trying to go with this book but it just didn’t hit for me
March 2, 2013
Very average book, boring at times but because its only 85 pages its not that bad
February 9, 2017
DNF at 20/75.
January 30, 2017
I found this book to be really boring. Even though it is a short story, there was nothing there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews