The Mutineer: A Romance of Pitcairn Island

by Louis Becke, Walter Jeffery

George Louis/Lewis Becke (1848-1913) was an Australian short-story writer and novelist. He began his voyages in the south seas at a very early age and there are two accounts of these beginnings: one by the Earl of Pembroke, who presumably obtained his information from Becke, which is prefixed to By Reef and Palm (1894), and the other written by Becke. It is difficult to reconcile them, and all that is certain is that Becke spent many years on vessels trading in the Pacific islands. Becke went to London, and he remained in Europe for about 15 years, during which time a large number of collections of short stories and a few novels and stories for boys were published. He was fairly paid by the magazines for his stories, but he always sold his books outright. About 30 of Becke's books are listed in Miller's Australian Literature with six other volumes written in collaboration with W. J. Jeffery. Among Becke's books are: The Naval Pioneers of Australia (1899), and By Rock and Pool on an Austral Shore and Other Stories (1901).

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1898

About the author

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Becke

Reviews

[Amy the book-bat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tells the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty from Fletcher Christian's POV

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789 led by Fletcher Christian against their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh. they were motivated by Bligh's allegedly harsh treatment of them. To avoid detection and prevent desertion, the mutineers then settled on Pitcairn Island and burned the Bounty off Pitcairn.
The book tells of the events prior to and during the mutiny. Then focuses on the finding and settling on Pitcairn and the following disintegration of the mixed society.

[Zuzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789 led by Fletcher Christian against their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh. According to accounts, the sailors were attracted to the "idyllic" life and sexual opportunities afforded on the Pacific island of Tahiti. It has also been argued that they were motivated by Bligh's allegedly harsh treatment of them.
Eighteen mutineers set Bligh afloat in a small boat with eighteen of the twenty-two crew loyal to him. To avoid detection and prevent desertion, the mutineers then variously settled on Pitcairn Island or on Tahiti and burned the Bounty off Pitcairn."

The book relates events prior to, during and subsequent to the mutiny, focusing on the settling of mutineers on the island of Pitcairn and the following disintegration of the mixed society (consisting of white men, Tahitians and Tubuaians).

I wonder about the title as the account of the mutiny is as unromantic as can be. ;)