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Men Without Country: The true story of exploration and rebellion in the South Seas
A mission to collect breadfruit from Tahiti becomes the most famous mutiny in history when the crew rise up against William Bligh, with accusations of food restrictions and unfair punishments.
Bligh’s remarkable journey back to safety is well documented, but the fates of the mutinous men remain shrouded in mystery. Some settled in Tahiti only to face capture and court martial, others sailed on to form a secret colony on Pitcairn Island, the most remote inhabited island on earth, avoiding detection for twenty years. When an American captain stumbled across the island in 1808, only one of the Bounty mutineers was left alive.
Told by a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, Men Without Country details the journey of the Bounty, and the lives of the men aboard. Lives dominated by a punishing regime of hard work and scarce rations, and deeply divided by the hierarchy of class. It is a tale of adventure and exploration punctuated by moments of extreme violence – towards each other and the people of the South Pacific.
For the first time, Christian provides a comprehensive and compelling account of the whole story – from the history of trade and exploration in the South Seas to Pitcairn Island, which provided the mutineers’ salvation, and then became their grave.
Bligh’s remarkable journey back to safety is well documented, but the fates of the mutinous men remain shrouded in mystery. Some settled in Tahiti only to face capture and court martial, others sailed on to form a secret colony on Pitcairn Island, the most remote inhabited island on earth, avoiding detection for twenty years. When an American captain stumbled across the island in 1808, only one of the Bounty mutineers was left alive.
Told by a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, Men Without Country details the journey of the Bounty, and the lives of the men aboard. Lives dominated by a punishing regime of hard work and scarce rations, and deeply divided by the hierarchy of class. It is a tale of adventure and exploration punctuated by moments of extreme violence – towards each other and the people of the South Pacific.
For the first time, Christian provides a comprehensive and compelling account of the whole story – from the history of trade and exploration in the South Seas to Pitcairn Island, which provided the mutineers’ salvation, and then became their grave.
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
11 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2021
I've been ruminating about this wonderful book for a few weeks now. This is a special retelling of the Mutiny on the Bounty, from a direct descendent. But that isn't why it's special, it's because it's so evocative - you feel you are there, in so many ways, and the author deserves all the credit.
It's succinct, it's thoughtful in its presentation of what happened, based solidly around documented evidence. That's what gives the book it's foundations.
There has been so many books on this subject. Many more wordy than this. They have their merit and critical acclaim. I just hope that the many that read those previous books won't neglect to read this wonderful rendition. It richly deserves as wide a readership; it's that good.
It's succinct, it's thoughtful in its presentation of what happened, based solidly around documented evidence. That's what gives the book it's foundations.
There has been so many books on this subject. Many more wordy than this. They have their merit and critical acclaim. I just hope that the many that read those previous books won't neglect to read this wonderful rendition. It richly deserves as wide a readership; it's that good.
July 18, 2021
Men without Country The true story of exploration and rebellion in the South Seas by Harrison Christian
The stories we hear as children stay with us. I remember my father telling me about Fletcher Christian and the crew of the bounty and making it seem like an unsolved mystery.
So I had to read Men without Country and see if the mystery that enthralled me as a child actually had an ending. Great read.
The stories we hear as children stay with us. I remember my father telling me about Fletcher Christian and the crew of the bounty and making it seem like an unsolved mystery.
So I had to read Men without Country and see if the mystery that enthralled me as a child actually had an ending. Great read.
September 6, 2023
Trigger warnings: mutiny, execution, racism, colonialism, death, animal death
3.5 stars
I picked this up because I've known the gist of the mutiny on the Bounty for years but everything I've read/seen/whatever has focused very much on Bligh and the others and their journey to Batavia and not on the mutineers. So I picked this up, given that it's written by one of Fletcher Christian's descendants, in the hopes that it would fill in some of the gaps. And, like, it DID? But it also focused very much on Bligh and what happened to him after the mutiny and I already knew the story of the Rum Rebellion so I was a little bit over things by the time we FINALLY got to Pitcairn Island.
Essentially, I hoped I'd finish this knowing a lot more about the mutineers and instead I know, like, 20% more than I did previously. It's an improvement. But it's still not great.
3.5 stars
I picked this up because I've known the gist of the mutiny on the Bounty for years but everything I've read/seen/whatever has focused very much on Bligh and the others and their journey to Batavia and not on the mutineers. So I picked this up, given that it's written by one of Fletcher Christian's descendants, in the hopes that it would fill in some of the gaps. And, like, it DID? But it also focused very much on Bligh and what happened to him after the mutiny and I already knew the story of the Rum Rebellion so I was a little bit over things by the time we FINALLY got to Pitcairn Island.
Essentially, I hoped I'd finish this knowing a lot more about the mutineers and instead I know, like, 20% more than I did previously. It's an improvement. But it's still not great.
January 8, 2022
The story of the Bounty and its infamous crew entertains as a piece of historical truth that is stranger than fiction - you really couldn't write a better tale! This well researched and well written book is authored by one of Fletcher Christian's descendants but it never tries to hold him up as the good guy. It's a fair retelling of the Bounty's journey, based on journals and records from the time, as well as contemporary historical research. It's duly noted that even at the time the different versions of the mutiny and its aftermath were oft disputed - done to some dubiousness as to how reliable Bligh's own accounts were! So knowing all that, this is an intriguing read that not only casts light on an interesting moment in history, but also a lesson in the need to be a critical reader of history. The book focuses of course on the mutineers and their settling of Pitcairn Island, and of course Bligh's life after being left for dead on the high seas. It also places the tale in amongst the events that were occurring in other parts of the world at the same time, and I admit I was blown away to be reminded that this happened at the same time as the French Revolution! I enjoyed the connections that were made between the actions of the sailors and their working class mates in France. I also liked that the book spoke of other important voyages to give context to the attitudes and conditions present on the Bounty, by including reference to Cook's journeys and the Pandora voyage. I don't usually read a lot of non-fiction but I very much enjoyed this book, and found it easy to read, as it kept me engaged. One of my takeaways from this is that Fletcher Christian is a bit like Ned Kelly - while he absolutely did some bad things, you kinda still have a soft spot for him because he was charming and you can see why he acted the way he did! That's what I think anyway! I could see a great in class opportunity for history students to look at the idea of the anit-hero and make a comparison between the two. But I digress - this book was great!
November 3, 2021
Having read a great deal already on the ‘most famous mutiny in history” I picked up this, the latest offering by one of Christian’s descendants, Harrison Christian.
Harrison is the 6th great-grandson of the infamous mutineer and he does include a marvellous bibliography for anyone interested in further reading. I recommend “Fragile Paradise” as well as I have been especially intrigued by the story as told by Glynn Christian, another descendent who I met and spoke with at his lecture at the State Library in NSW some years ago.
Harrison has pieced together the gaps in the known story, a bit like a master puzzler who has revealed the whole picture by sharing the stories of the more unknown mutineers. He has researched their histories from the source material and in doing so created a unique history of the events while pointing out the shortcomings of some of the various storytellers’ narratives and speculating on their biases.
It is a bit of a choppy work. Harrison admits he put it together during 2020 during lockdown in the USA. He is a journalist but the book fulfils a personal quest to know the people who were involved with his great grandfather in that terrible misadventure. I felt it needed a bit more rewrites and honing to give more of a polished feel, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating its value.©️SuzanneKing
Harrison is the 6th great-grandson of the infamous mutineer and he does include a marvellous bibliography for anyone interested in further reading. I recommend “Fragile Paradise” as well as I have been especially intrigued by the story as told by Glynn Christian, another descendent who I met and spoke with at his lecture at the State Library in NSW some years ago.
Harrison has pieced together the gaps in the known story, a bit like a master puzzler who has revealed the whole picture by sharing the stories of the more unknown mutineers. He has researched their histories from the source material and in doing so created a unique history of the events while pointing out the shortcomings of some of the various storytellers’ narratives and speculating on their biases.
It is a bit of a choppy work. Harrison admits he put it together during 2020 during lockdown in the USA. He is a journalist but the book fulfils a personal quest to know the people who were involved with his great grandfather in that terrible misadventure. I felt it needed a bit more rewrites and honing to give more of a polished feel, but that didn’t stop me from appreciating its value.©️SuzanneKing
October 7, 2022
Very interesting and not what you might think.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
December 12, 2022
I’m very familiar with the events of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789 but like other historical events and time periods I like to read updated books for research and new angles. William Bligh has also intrigued me, because not only was he set adrift by Fletcher Christian and his mutineers but he was Governor-General of Australia for a short-time in 1806 where he was sent by Britain to clean up the corrupt rum trade in Sydney. However, his actions resulted in the “Rum Rebellion”. I always remember at school a seeing a painting of him hiding under the bed in Government House in Sydney when the NSW Army Corps were finding him to arrest him! I enjoyed reading the author’s analysis of Bligh which speculate on his being a tyrant and unable to lead men but also a loving husband and father whose family were devoted to him.
What I enjoyed about this book, was the author’s inclusion of the context of the time – a time of slavery, exploration and exploitation of Indigenous peoples. He explained many of the events occurring across the world at the time the munity occurred in Tahiti where Fletcher and his men set William Bligh and his supporters adrift in a small boat. It should have been to their deaths but miraculously, Bligh was able to navigate them to Timor. Fletcher, other mutineers and some Tahitians set up a new life on the unhabituated and remote Pitcairn Island.
There are always multiple-sides to any story and the truth will never be known but the author does a good job of presenting possible scenarios. Its intriguing that the mutineers remained undiscovered on Pitcairn Island for 18 years! Families were formed and children were born, but it wasn’t a Utopia. The mutineers treatment of the Tahitian men who they felt superior to lead to tensions and fighting and it’s a mystery whether or not Fletcher Christian was murdered or escaped back to England.
Highly recommended.
What I enjoyed about this book, was the author’s inclusion of the context of the time – a time of slavery, exploration and exploitation of Indigenous peoples. He explained many of the events occurring across the world at the time the munity occurred in Tahiti where Fletcher and his men set William Bligh and his supporters adrift in a small boat. It should have been to their deaths but miraculously, Bligh was able to navigate them to Timor. Fletcher, other mutineers and some Tahitians set up a new life on the unhabituated and remote Pitcairn Island.
There are always multiple-sides to any story and the truth will never be known but the author does a good job of presenting possible scenarios. Its intriguing that the mutineers remained undiscovered on Pitcairn Island for 18 years! Families were formed and children were born, but it wasn’t a Utopia. The mutineers treatment of the Tahitian men who they felt superior to lead to tensions and fighting and it’s a mystery whether or not Fletcher Christian was murdered or escaped back to England.
Highly recommended.
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January 31, 2022I am a third way through this book which I have really been looking forward to ...
I have my own story about a Christian family member, a young 15/16 year old girl called Linda. My late father, a Merchant Seaman on board the SS Captain Cook (immigrant ship sailing between UK and NZ) told me of how the ship was diverted to - I believe Pitcairn - to pick up a very ill Linda who was transported to the Cook on outrigger canoes to be taken for treatment. This must have been 1953/54/55, with the passage of time, I am no longer sure. Unfortunately Linda died and was buried at sea. Since I have been old enough, my father and I have raised always a glass to Linda, I am convinced that she was remembered only by me and my Dad, I have never forgotten! With the passing of my Dad, it is only me ... I was fortunate to spend a couple of weeks on Norfolk Island where I sought out a Christian descendant to 'pass' Linda on to, the lady promised me that she would carry the mantle of raising a glass to Linda. I hope so!!
Well this has nothing to do with the book - I have enjoyed it so far - but I am not sure that I will finish it. I fear that it will be a whitewash of Fletcher, it is looking that way ... to be truly objective, it needs to acknowledge all aspects - good and bad - I learnt many things on Norfolk Island not least that the sailors were enamoured of the Tahitian ladies which had significant impact on the events that followed.
Have you read it? Did you finish it? Tell me please your opinion?
I have my own story about a Christian family member, a young 15/16 year old girl called Linda. My late father, a Merchant Seaman on board the SS Captain Cook (immigrant ship sailing between UK and NZ) told me of how the ship was diverted to - I believe Pitcairn - to pick up a very ill Linda who was transported to the Cook on outrigger canoes to be taken for treatment. This must have been 1953/54/55, with the passage of time, I am no longer sure. Unfortunately Linda died and was buried at sea. Since I have been old enough, my father and I have raised always a glass to Linda, I am convinced that she was remembered only by me and my Dad, I have never forgotten! With the passing of my Dad, it is only me ... I was fortunate to spend a couple of weeks on Norfolk Island where I sought out a Christian descendant to 'pass' Linda on to, the lady promised me that she would carry the mantle of raising a glass to Linda. I hope so!!
Well this has nothing to do with the book - I have enjoyed it so far - but I am not sure that I will finish it. I fear that it will be a whitewash of Fletcher, it is looking that way ... to be truly objective, it needs to acknowledge all aspects - good and bad - I learnt many things on Norfolk Island not least that the sailors were enamoured of the Tahitian ladies which had significant impact on the events that followed.
Have you read it? Did you finish it? Tell me please your opinion?
February 5, 2022
I have read several books on the mutiny and the subsequent settlement of Pitcairn. An endlessly fascinating story. This book ranks well amongst this group. It is extensively researched using primary sources. Christian has a clear writing style and a talent for portraying personalities - see the complexities of Bligh and of Joseph Banks. Fletcher remains more elusive and I feel Glynn Christian (obviously a relative of both Fletcher and Harrison) captures Fletcher more in his book.
I am puzzled why no maps were included, especially to trace Bligh's voyage in the tiny boat. Even though I live in New Zealand, I still found details of the various voyages challenging.
I would also like to had more details on the lives and experiences of the Tahitian women who chose to leave their home and families to sail into the unknown. How many died in childbirth or lost babies?
Having "Jenny's" interviews could have thrown light on this.
Nevertheless a very worthwhile read.
I am puzzled why no maps were included, especially to trace Bligh's voyage in the tiny boat. Even though I live in New Zealand, I still found details of the various voyages challenging.
I would also like to had more details on the lives and experiences of the Tahitian women who chose to leave their home and families to sail into the unknown. How many died in childbirth or lost babies?
Having "Jenny's" interviews could have thrown light on this.
Nevertheless a very worthwhile read.
January 5, 2022
The story of Fletcher Christian and how, with a small band of mutineers, he took over HMS Bounty and set William Bligh and his supporters adrift in a longboat, has been told and romanticised many times. The mutiny took place in Tahiti in 1789 and afterwards Christian and his followers, who included Tahitians, sailed to the remote Pitcairn Island where they remained undiscovered for 18 years. No one has ever learned what happened to Christian and consequently rumours and hoaxes have thrived. Was he murdered by some of his followers? Did he secretly return to England? This latest telling of the story, by a descendent of Christian, does not reveal any major new information or evidence, but it does offer an entertaining overview of the mutiny and its aftermath, while also balancing the conflicting opinions about the guilt, or otherwise, of William Bligh.
January 12, 2022
A fascinating and thoughtful retelling of the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian to overthrow Captain Bligh of the ship Bounty.
Fletcher's distant descendant, Harrison Christian, has written a well researched and entertainingly told tale of not just the mutiny but also surrounding events and remarkable and enjoyable tales at sea in the South Pacific.
4.85/5 - certainly worth rounding up to 5.
Fletcher's distant descendant, Harrison Christian, has written a well researched and entertainingly told tale of not just the mutiny but also surrounding events and remarkable and enjoyable tales at sea in the South Pacific.
4.85/5 - certainly worth rounding up to 5.
April 22, 2022
Well-researched, clearly written account of a mutiny that has inspired books and movies since it occurred. Harrison Christian presents new insights on the key “players” in this desperate attempt by some of the crew of the Bounty, to redress the unbearable conditions imposed by an intransigent, cruel, self-important captain.
It’s also a reminder, that life at sea was not fun and games, and that the discoveries and triumphs of exploration have been destructive in so many ways.
It’s also a reminder, that life at sea was not fun and games, and that the discoveries and triumphs of exploration have been destructive in so many ways.
April 22, 2023
This book is very interesting, I especially enjoyed learning about life on board a sailing ship in the 1700 and 1800s and just the kind of life these men would leave, living years at a time at sea. Truly a completely different time and life than what we know today.
October 5, 2021
3.75 stars
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October 22, 2021v. interesting, an easy read, horrific conditions on sailing ships, amazing stories of survival
December 31, 2021
Superbly written. Well researched. A story more fascinating than fiction. Mr Christian has written one of the best non fiction tales (?) I have had the pleasure of reading. Bravo!
October 27, 2024
Loved it
September 26, 2025
An enjoyable read. I was worried this book would just retell the story we all know so I was grateful when it moved through the actual mutiny relatively quickly to focus on the aftermath.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews