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Truth About Mutiny on HMAV Bounty and Fate of Flet
The Truth About the Mutiny on HMAV BOUNTY – and the Fate of Fletcher Christian brings this famed South Pacific saga into the 21st century.
By combining unprecedented research into Fletcher Christian and his fate with deep knowledge of Bounty’s Polynesian women, Glynn Christian presents a fresh and comprehensive telling of a powerful maritime adventure that still captivates after 230 years.
Of over 3000 books and major articles on the mutiny, or the five feature films starring such as Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson, none has told the true story as until 1982, no author knew the real Fletcher Christian, or could understand his relationship with William Bligh, his mentor-turned-nemesis. Glynn Christian’s extraordinary research into Bligh, Christian and Bounty included every deposit of documents worldwide and a sailing expedition to Pitcairn Island.
This book details the cramped dark conditions on the ship and how Bligh bravely commanded it at Cape Horn, saving it and the crew. Yet he was unable to keep discipline because he didn’t punish enough, instead relying on his brutal tongue. Forced to remain in Tahiti for 23 weeks, Bligh struggled to retain order when Bounty sailed.
Glynn Christian reveals how this affected Fletcher Christian mentally, explaining his out-of-character mutiny. Then Christian showed revolutionary social conscience, using democracy and uniforms on Bounty to maintain leadership, including through the little-known settlement of Fort George on Tubuai.
After this, he and Bounty disappeared for 18 years. Bounty’s story becomes that of Pitcairn Island, of revolutionary black women who protected their children with the blood of their fathers and continued Fletcher’s ideals to become the first women in the world permanently to have the vote and guarantee education for girls.
But where was Fletcher Christian?
By combining unprecedented research into Fletcher Christian and his fate with deep knowledge of Bounty’s Polynesian women, Glynn Christian presents a fresh and comprehensive telling of a powerful maritime adventure that still captivates after 230 years.
Of over 3000 books and major articles on the mutiny, or the five feature films starring such as Clark Gable, Charles Laughton, Marlon Brando and Mel Gibson, none has told the true story as until 1982, no author knew the real Fletcher Christian, or could understand his relationship with William Bligh, his mentor-turned-nemesis. Glynn Christian’s extraordinary research into Bligh, Christian and Bounty included every deposit of documents worldwide and a sailing expedition to Pitcairn Island.
This book details the cramped dark conditions on the ship and how Bligh bravely commanded it at Cape Horn, saving it and the crew. Yet he was unable to keep discipline because he didn’t punish enough, instead relying on his brutal tongue. Forced to remain in Tahiti for 23 weeks, Bligh struggled to retain order when Bounty sailed.
Glynn Christian reveals how this affected Fletcher Christian mentally, explaining his out-of-character mutiny. Then Christian showed revolutionary social conscience, using democracy and uniforms on Bounty to maintain leadership, including through the little-known settlement of Fort George on Tubuai.
After this, he and Bounty disappeared for 18 years. Bounty’s story becomes that of Pitcairn Island, of revolutionary black women who protected their children with the blood of their fathers and continued Fletcher’s ideals to become the first women in the world permanently to have the vote and guarantee education for girls.
But where was Fletcher Christian?
256 pages, Hardcover
Published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2021
This famous South Pacific saga is brought alive with with this book.
The author through comprehensive documented research tells this powerful fateful maritime adventure, detailed is Fletcher Christian and his relationship with William Bligh. William Bligh who could bravely command in difficult situations but struggled to keep order amongst shipmates resulting in the mutiny. Fletcher however retained leadership through democracy only then for him & Bounty to disappear for 18 years but to where & do what?.
A interesting book that filled a void of knowledge and made me go off and research more in to the Pitcairn islands, its small population and the women's right to education and the vote, however that then gave me more detail about what potentially happened in those years compared to the authors reasoning and views that he balances with his research.
A atmospheric book with contrasts from the dingy dark cramped ship conditions to the beautiful tropical landscape you can't help but loose yourself within.
I haven't read anything off this subject to compare it too but I rated it on my enjoyment overall and appreciation of the amount of work the author must have undertaken.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
The author through comprehensive documented research tells this powerful fateful maritime adventure, detailed is Fletcher Christian and his relationship with William Bligh. William Bligh who could bravely command in difficult situations but struggled to keep order amongst shipmates resulting in the mutiny. Fletcher however retained leadership through democracy only then for him & Bounty to disappear for 18 years but to where & do what?.
A interesting book that filled a void of knowledge and made me go off and research more in to the Pitcairn islands, its small population and the women's right to education and the vote, however that then gave me more detail about what potentially happened in those years compared to the authors reasoning and views that he balances with his research.
A atmospheric book with contrasts from the dingy dark cramped ship conditions to the beautiful tropical landscape you can't help but loose yourself within.
I haven't read anything off this subject to compare it too but I rated it on my enjoyment overall and appreciation of the amount of work the author must have undertaken.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.
October 25, 2021
This latest version of the Bounty mutiny is billed as “the truth” and claims to be based on details that come from the author’s exhaustive research into every aspect of the story. Newly-discovered details and contradictions of the known story are used to present this revised history.
What follows are the details about Captain William Bligh and Fletcher Christian, beginning with their first merchant voyage together and incorporating their subsequent naval voyages too. Bligh had the higher rank and was Christian’s commander for years prior to the Bounty voyage. This was lorded over him often.
When some thinkers of the Royal Society considered ways to improve the diet and nourishment of Caribbean slaves, the botanists touted the breadfruit plants found in Polynesia. King George III was asked to send an expedition to get the plants. The small merchant ship Bethia was converted to house the plants for the voyage to the Caribbean, and re-christened as His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty. Bligh and Christian were captain and lieutenant. A couple of midshipmen joined the crew, which included a master, carpenter, boatswain, cooper, and botanist, but no marines for keeping watches and defending the officers from harm.
The preparations for departure took too long and Bounty left late in the season, with winter storms and heavy seas expected off Cape Horn. After weeks of horrible weather, Bligh gave up and took the opposite course, heading east to the Indian Ocean. One midshipman, Peter Heyward, wrote an account of their battle with the storms in a letter sent from Cape Town. Despite the fact that his story was previously published and parts of his writings appear in other books or documents, including Frank Snyder’s Life Under Sail (1964), the author of The Truth about the Mutiny claims he discovered this “new account.”
The months between the Bounty’s departure from England, until the breadfruit plants are loaded for the voyage to the Caribbean, are discussed in detail. Also covered is Bligh’s treatment of the men, including how he micro-managed them, the lack of a fresh diet aboard Bounty while surrounded by fruits and animals on Tahiti, and his restrictions on the men’s lust for the Polynesian women.
Once the ship sailed, there is clear evidence of Bligh’s harassment of Fletcher Christian. The author highlights several ways this animosity kept increasing and how most of the crew witnessed its impact on Christian. He knew the voyage would take many months before he saw England again, and that he could not survive under Bligh and his ways. He considered taking one of the boats to escape, but decided it would be better to make Bligh leave and install himself as the captain to lead and care for the crew.
The book’s author includes a chapter entitled “Mad to do it – or Mad?” in which he discusses the question of Fletcher Christian’s health and sanity. Here again, the author touts his research for uncovering this “new” suggestion. But this issue of Christian’s mental state appears in earlier published accounts about the mutiny, including Sir John Barrow’s Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of H.M.S. Bounty: Its Cause and Consequences (1831), which quotes Fletcher Christian’s statement, “That, — Captain Bligh, — that is the thing; — I am in hell! — I am in hell!” This statement clearly indicates Christian feels pressure from Bligh’s treatment and explains why he removed Bligh.
The mutiny is told in great detail, followed by a chapter about Bligh’s open boat voyage and an account of Bounty as a storeship travelling through Polynesia in search of a home. The author also talks about a second breadfruit expedition; HMS Pandora’s search for the mutineers; and their subsequent capture and courts-martial. There is an inset of black-and-white photos, a short list of sources, and an index to provide more details to readers.
In addition, this book covers life on Pitcairn Island. It includes a step-by-step recounting of Massacre Day when male natives killed several white men and took their women, as well as Bounty’s post-mutiny wandering through Polynesia. This new information comes from Jenny, the only native woman to leave the island. She told the stories to a sea captain in 1817. More than a century later, the incidents and places she described were mapped out to show Bounty’s many wanderings.
Written by the great-great-great-great grandson of Fletcher Christian and his Tahitian consort, Mauatua, this book is an enjoyable retelling of the Bounty mutiny and its aftermath with some new material added. Royal Navy fans and folks interested in examples of the life of a sailor, or law students interested in following every detail of the courts-martial and punishments will benefit from reading this new entry on the subject.
Review Copyright ©2021 by Irwin Bryan
What follows are the details about Captain William Bligh and Fletcher Christian, beginning with their first merchant voyage together and incorporating their subsequent naval voyages too. Bligh had the higher rank and was Christian’s commander for years prior to the Bounty voyage. This was lorded over him often.
When some thinkers of the Royal Society considered ways to improve the diet and nourishment of Caribbean slaves, the botanists touted the breadfruit plants found in Polynesia. King George III was asked to send an expedition to get the plants. The small merchant ship Bethia was converted to house the plants for the voyage to the Caribbean, and re-christened as His Majesty’s Armed Vessel Bounty. Bligh and Christian were captain and lieutenant. A couple of midshipmen joined the crew, which included a master, carpenter, boatswain, cooper, and botanist, but no marines for keeping watches and defending the officers from harm.
The preparations for departure took too long and Bounty left late in the season, with winter storms and heavy seas expected off Cape Horn. After weeks of horrible weather, Bligh gave up and took the opposite course, heading east to the Indian Ocean. One midshipman, Peter Heyward, wrote an account of their battle with the storms in a letter sent from Cape Town. Despite the fact that his story was previously published and parts of his writings appear in other books or documents, including Frank Snyder’s Life Under Sail (1964), the author of The Truth about the Mutiny claims he discovered this “new account.”
The months between the Bounty’s departure from England, until the breadfruit plants are loaded for the voyage to the Caribbean, are discussed in detail. Also covered is Bligh’s treatment of the men, including how he micro-managed them, the lack of a fresh diet aboard Bounty while surrounded by fruits and animals on Tahiti, and his restrictions on the men’s lust for the Polynesian women.
Once the ship sailed, there is clear evidence of Bligh’s harassment of Fletcher Christian. The author highlights several ways this animosity kept increasing and how most of the crew witnessed its impact on Christian. He knew the voyage would take many months before he saw England again, and that he could not survive under Bligh and his ways. He considered taking one of the boats to escape, but decided it would be better to make Bligh leave and install himself as the captain to lead and care for the crew.
The book’s author includes a chapter entitled “Mad to do it – or Mad?” in which he discusses the question of Fletcher Christian’s health and sanity. Here again, the author touts his research for uncovering this “new” suggestion. But this issue of Christian’s mental state appears in earlier published accounts about the mutiny, including Sir John Barrow’s Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of H.M.S. Bounty: Its Cause and Consequences (1831), which quotes Fletcher Christian’s statement, “That, — Captain Bligh, — that is the thing; — I am in hell! — I am in hell!” This statement clearly indicates Christian feels pressure from Bligh’s treatment and explains why he removed Bligh.
The mutiny is told in great detail, followed by a chapter about Bligh’s open boat voyage and an account of Bounty as a storeship travelling through Polynesia in search of a home. The author also talks about a second breadfruit expedition; HMS Pandora’s search for the mutineers; and their subsequent capture and courts-martial. There is an inset of black-and-white photos, a short list of sources, and an index to provide more details to readers.
In addition, this book covers life on Pitcairn Island. It includes a step-by-step recounting of Massacre Day when male natives killed several white men and took their women, as well as Bounty’s post-mutiny wandering through Polynesia. This new information comes from Jenny, the only native woman to leave the island. She told the stories to a sea captain in 1817. More than a century later, the incidents and places she described were mapped out to show Bounty’s many wanderings.
Written by the great-great-great-great grandson of Fletcher Christian and his Tahitian consort, Mauatua, this book is an enjoyable retelling of the Bounty mutiny and its aftermath with some new material added. Royal Navy fans and folks interested in examples of the life of a sailor, or law students interested in following every detail of the courts-martial and punishments will benefit from reading this new entry on the subject.
Review Copyright ©2021 by Irwin Bryan
April 2, 2021
So part of the fault of the 2-star review is that I should have done more research before requesting this book from Netgalley... in my defense, I've been really interested in the history of famous ships ever since reading Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage last year - so when I saw this on the "Recently Added Books" tab, I quickly requested and was kindly granted a copy.
My first flag should have been that the author and the titular character have the same last name - and low and behold, Christian is the great-great-etc grandson of Fletcher Christian. So already there's a bit more of a bias here than I usually like in my non-fiction. A second flag is that the title is "The Truth about", therefore implying that there's some belief that needs to be set right. This is seen throughout the book - Christian paints his fore-bearer in a very positive light compared to the others (namely William Bligh, whom Fletcher mutinied against). I am assuming from a lot of the context that Fletcher is usually viewed with a much harsher lens, although this is my first interaction with the history of HMAV Bounty, Bligh and Fletcher.
Some parts were more interesting than others - I got very intrigued once our mutineers arrived on Pitcairn island, and bored during the chapters on written defenses/trials. One thing I did appreciate was the author's conscious effort to separate quoted/cited information from what he himself thinks happened - "I" and "My belief" are seen throughout. I appreciate this, because it helped distinguish where fact ends and conjecture starts. Overall, I think Christian has presented a mostly believable theory of certain events (and the reasonings behind those events), although it is definitely tinted through his white cis-man lens.
Ultimately I would have rated this higher if not for the writing, which is not super engaging and leans slightly convoluted - maybe Christian has been reading too many historical documents! I actually have some family that likes to make long Word documents about our geneological history - this reminded me of an extended version of that (albeit much more exciting), complete with descriptions of trips where the author obtained his information, or where he was excited/confused.
While I'm not going to go out of my way to recommend this to anybody, I did finish it - and I'm glad I learned more about an event (and place) that I had never heard of. The descriptions of the island landscape reminded me one of my favorite books of 2020 - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia - which I would HIGHLY recommend to any and all!
I voluntarily obtained an eBook version of this book free from Netgalley and Pen & Sword History in exchange for an honest review!
My first flag should have been that the author and the titular character have the same last name - and low and behold, Christian is the great-great-etc grandson of Fletcher Christian. So already there's a bit more of a bias here than I usually like in my non-fiction. A second flag is that the title is "The Truth about", therefore implying that there's some belief that needs to be set right. This is seen throughout the book - Christian paints his fore-bearer in a very positive light compared to the others (namely William Bligh, whom Fletcher mutinied against). I am assuming from a lot of the context that Fletcher is usually viewed with a much harsher lens, although this is my first interaction with the history of HMAV Bounty, Bligh and Fletcher.
Some parts were more interesting than others - I got very intrigued once our mutineers arrived on Pitcairn island, and bored during the chapters on written defenses/trials. One thing I did appreciate was the author's conscious effort to separate quoted/cited information from what he himself thinks happened - "I" and "My belief" are seen throughout. I appreciate this, because it helped distinguish where fact ends and conjecture starts. Overall, I think Christian has presented a mostly believable theory of certain events (and the reasonings behind those events), although it is definitely tinted through his white cis-man lens.
Ultimately I would have rated this higher if not for the writing, which is not super engaging and leans slightly convoluted - maybe Christian has been reading too many historical documents! I actually have some family that likes to make long Word documents about our geneological history - this reminded me of an extended version of that (albeit much more exciting), complete with descriptions of trips where the author obtained his information, or where he was excited/confused.
While I'm not going to go out of my way to recommend this to anybody, I did finish it - and I'm glad I learned more about an event (and place) that I had never heard of. The descriptions of the island landscape reminded me one of my favorite books of 2020 - Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia - which I would HIGHLY recommend to any and all!
I voluntarily obtained an eBook version of this book free from Netgalley and Pen & Sword History in exchange for an honest review!
January 28, 2022
First HMAV stands for His Majesty's Armed Vessel, which apparently the Bounty was since it's mission was to secure breadfruit trees from the Pacific Islands to the West Indies.
This is a different story from what has been written in books, showed on the several films made about the mutiny. Both Bligh and Christian were not villain and angel but humans with different ideas of treating people. Bligh seemed to be more of vile low person who would insults and demean people rather than use the Cat (though he did) Christian was so mentally tortured that he could no longer take it.
We know that there was the mutiny, but what happened next? Bligh and his group suffered, bu tin the end they made eventually back to England. Christian after a failed attempt on one island ended up at Pitcairn Island where he made several advances for women's rights, but fell into problems of running day to day issues.
Written by Fletcher Christian's great, great, great, great grandson, who has done some amazing research. The book is probably the best book on the subject. Put aside all you've read or seen and read this highly recommended book with a open mind
This is a different story from what has been written in books, showed on the several films made about the mutiny. Both Bligh and Christian were not villain and angel but humans with different ideas of treating people. Bligh seemed to be more of vile low person who would insults and demean people rather than use the Cat (though he did) Christian was so mentally tortured that he could no longer take it.
We know that there was the mutiny, but what happened next? Bligh and his group suffered, bu tin the end they made eventually back to England. Christian after a failed attempt on one island ended up at Pitcairn Island where he made several advances for women's rights, but fell into problems of running day to day issues.
Written by Fletcher Christian's great, great, great, great grandson, who has done some amazing research. The book is probably the best book on the subject. Put aside all you've read or seen and read this highly recommended book with a open mind
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews