Mutiny: A Novel of the Bounty

by John Boyne

Internationally bestselling author John Boyne has been praised as "one of the best and original of the new generation of Irish writers" by the Irish Examiner. With Mutiny, he's created an eye-opening story of life--and death--at sea. Fourteen-year-old pickpocket John Jacob Turnstile has just been caught red-handed and is on his way to prison when an offer is put to him---a ship has been refitted over the last few months and is about to set sail with an important mission. The boy who was expected to serve as the captain's personal valet has been injured and a replacement must be found immediately.Given the choice of prison or a life at sea, John soon finds himself on board, meeting the captain, just as the ship sets sail. The ship is the Bounty, the captain is William Bligh, and their destination is Tahiti. Their journey, however, will become one of the most infamous in naval history.Mutiny is the first novel to explore all the events relating to the Bounty's voyage, from the long passage across the ocean to their adventures on the island of Tahiti and the subsequent forty-eight-day expedition toward Timor. This vivid retelling of the notorious mutiny is packed with humor, violence, and historical detail, while presenting an intriguingly different portrait of Captain Bligh and Mr. Christian than has ever been presented before.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Classics, Young Adult, Nautical

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

I was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.

I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.

Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.

I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.

In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.

My novels are published in 58 languages.

My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.

Reviews

[Kevin Ansbro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahoy there, me hearties! All hands on deck!
Cap'n Kevin here, and I've been reading John Boyne's Mutiny on the Bounty, so I have!
Arrrrh!

Now then, although I revere Boyne's flamboyant writing, this was not one of his best, in my humble opinion.

Our story begins with a scene straight out of a Dickens novel: Artful Dodger-esque street urchin, John Jacob Turnstile, knows that money doesn't grow on trees and therefore needs to pick a pocket or two. Yess! This is bloomin' luvverly, thought I, breaking into a rousing chorus of ♬Consider Yourself♬ from Oliver!
Needless to say, Turnstile (truly a lovable rogue) is caught red-handed and ends up in the long arms of the law.
To avoid a harsh jail sentence he is offered a working position on HMS Bounty and finds himself valet to none other than Captain William Bligh. Naturally, and without delay, I spliced my mainbrace with a tot of rum and hoisted my mainsail. "Come on, John Boyne, you lovable landlubber!" I bellowed into the salty wind. "Enthral me with a dazzling escapade on the very highest of seas!"

Sadly, it wasn't to be. What ensued was a boys'-own adventure that remained far too frisky for my liking (and I like frisky). Boyne plays fast and loose with the language of the day, slipping into modern-day vernacular with alacrity and depicting Tahitian natives as having such a perfect command of the English language that I wondered if they'd enrolled on one of those Rosetta Stone language courses.
Example (native girl to Turnstile): "You employ a man to live with horses?" : )

Anyone familiar with my reviews will know that I'm a huge fan of John Boyne's work. Consequently, I fully expected this book to rattle my crow's nest and shiver my timbers. Although extremely excited by its Dickensian beginning, the story didn't move through the gears and I wasn't at any point imbued with a sense of trepidation. In summary, it was a rollicking good read that needed a bit of a rethink.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

MY NAUTICAL STAR-RATING SYSTEM:

***** "Ship-shape and Bristol fashion."

**** "Land ahoy!"

*** "Aye, aye, Cap'n!"

** "Walk the plank, you scurvy dog!"

* "Abandon ship!"

[jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 books later and i realise im starting to run out of ways to praise john boyne and his exceptional storytelling.

this is an extremely niche book. i can think of only two reasons why someone would pick this up - 1) they are familiar with the mutiny on the bounty and want to read a fictional narrative describing the historical event, and/or 2) they are a fan of john boyne.

i fall under #2. ive never heard of the bounty or the famous mutiny that took place, but i really shouldnt be surprised the JB made me so invested in the story. and its because of the characters. once again, he takes characters who couldnt be any more different from me, and makes me feel such emotion for them.

i also found the way the story is told to be really interesting. with JBs other historical fiction books, the writing is modern. but with this one, i feel as if i was reading an actual account of the event back when it happened in 1789. its very dated language and structure, but it honestly makes the story feel more authentic. its not a writing style i would ever attribute to JB, but i think he makes it work.

again, im pretty sure only really hardcore historical fiction fans and/or lovers of john boyne will enjoy this, but thats not stopping me from recommending this to everyone!

↠ 4.5 stars

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Boyne is one of my favourite authors. I have always enjoyed sea stories especially the Hornblower books and movies. I wasn't sure if I would like this recording of the familiar story of the mutiny that took place on the Bounty as much as I did with it being so well known. This book however is way up there among the best of anything I have previously read about the events. It is a fresh take on the story and a fascinating read. It is narrated by Captain Bligh's cabin boy. John Boyne is an accomplished writer. He really succeeds in bringing a story to life and this book is no exception. There is clear evidence of meticulous research into the language and customs of the time. His detailed description of life on board His Majesty's ships of that time is of a high standard. I have never been disappointed by John Boyne's writing. I was totally absorbed right from the first page and felt as if I was there, living the life among the sailors on board the ship as the story unfolded. If you like adventure and sea stories you will enjoy this book. I do and I highly recommend it.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 brilliant stars for the writing and storytelling.

What a marvellous take on a historical event!
The setting is England, 1787, and a voyage to Tahiti.
Thanks to the author’s exceptional writing skills, I was completely absorbed by the storyline from page one.
The opening chapters reminded me of Oliver, by Charles Dickens.
John Boyne is a master storyteller.

The English language was a bit archaic sometimes, but delicious and far from being pretentious or boring. The dialogues were terrific with a good dose of humour.
The characters were vivid and believable.
There isn’t a lot of action. The mutiny happens after 65% of the book.
The main character, a 14 year old boy, is very eloquent and funny, even though his upbringing was heartbreaking (he was sexually abused as a child, and although details were not disclosed, I could easily feel his pain).

I just can’t praise this book enough.
I love reading a book that can totally absorb me and make me oblivious of my surroundings. That is magical!
What a talent!

This is my 10th book by this author, who became one of my favourite writers.
My favourite book is still “The Heart’s Invisible Furies”.

P.S. do not confuse this book with the classic one written by Charles Nordhoff, published in 1932, which was adapted for the screen in 1936 (a movie with Charles Laughton & Clark Gable) and the 1962 (a remake with Marlon Brandon and Richard Harris).

[Tara Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Nick Pageant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Incredible rethinking of The Mutiny on the Bounty. This book filters everything you think you know through the eyes of a 14 year old narrator who is a little too wise to the ways of the world. The voice of this kid was hilarious. Imagine Charles Dickens telling you the story of the Bounty through the voice of The Artful Dodger. Great, great book.

[Fabian {Councillor} · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me intrigued more than I would have thought after holding it in my hands for the first of many times (and has lead me to write my first review here). Not only is the protagonist very likeable, but also has the crew's voyage been described in a very detailed and enthralling way.

The first part was used to introduce the protagonist, John Jacob Turnstile. It needed the second part, the voyage by ship, to get me invested though. The author was capable of telling this story by brutally describing the sailor's deeds, while also captivating an intriguing atmosphere and creating vibrant, divisive characters. The third part dealt with a lot of sexual allusions, also including a love story with too many sex scenes as every single sailor was characterized as if nobody of them could resist his sexual desires. The story later became a lot more exciting than in the third part, culminating in an explosive last part.

The reader shouldn't have weak nerves to read such a book, as it deals very detailed and brutally with the "mutiny of the Bounty". The book establishes the main conflicts very elaborately and hence cannot be read in only some hours. But it has easily turned into one of my favourite books, so I can just as easily recommend this lecture to everyone else.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Jacob Turnstile is fourteen and one of many boys living with the formidable Mr Lewis in Portsmouth, spending his days picking pockets and his nights in the upstairs rooms with the other pretty boys, doing things with wealthy men that give him nightmares. Still, it's his life and has no plans to leave it, until the day that choice is taken out of his hands and made for him. Caught lifting a French gentleman's pocket watch, he is taken before the magistrate and sentenced to twelve months gaol time. A last-second reprieve from the same French gentleman, Mr Zéla, sees him instead aboard the HMS Bounty just before it leaves, to serve as ship boy and servant to the captain, William Bligh.

Nursing vague plans of escaping somewhere along the voyage - because Mr Lewis will be far from forgiving when he turns up in Portsmouth again - Turnstile settles into life on board the ship, a whole new experience for the lad. He learns that because it's a smaller kind of ship, it has no real captain, and Captain Bligh, as he is called, is really only a lieutenant, and this is something of a sore spot with him. But Bligh nursed Turnstile through his three days of seasickness and for that alone, he has Turnstile's adoration and gratitude. While he manages to eventually befriend or at least come to an understanding with the ship's crew, Turnstile is leery of the Master's Mate and third-in-command, Fletcher Christian, and one of the other officers, a pimply boy not much older than Turnstile called Mr Heywood. There are tensions and outright arguments between the captain and his second-in-command, the ship's Master, Mr Fryer, an older, cautious and experienced man who is the voice of reason the captain is too often disdainful of.

The Bounty is on an important mission, one the captain takes very seriously: to reach Tahiti to acquire breadfruit seedlings, take them to the British colonies in the West Indies to be planted there so as to provide cheap and plentiful food for their slaves. It is December 1787 when they set out from Portsmouth, and it takes them nearly a year to arrive at Otaheite - what we call Tahiti - where they stay for six months, cultivating seedlings and transplanting them into the pots they brought. This island is a paradise for the crew, who take full advantage of a relaxed discipline to spend their new abundance of free time - when not working on the transplanting - with the pretty and sexually free women of the island. Even Turnstile finds a girl to fall in love with. The only man who has no interest in this leisure activity is Captain Bligh, who remains faithful to his wife Betsy.

It is only when it is time to leave Tahiti that the real trouble begins, starting with three men deserting and a list turning up naming other sailors - and officers - along with the deserters. But Bligh and Fryer don't see the list for what it really is: a list of men the writer believed would stand against the captain in a mutiny. For that is exactly what happens, a mutiny on one of King George's ships, and one of the Bounty's launch's - a small boat merely twenty-three feet long - is put into the water with the captain and only eighteen loyal men inside, and one small locked box of food that would, under normal circumstances, barely last a day.

Set adrift in the South Pacific, their chances of survival are dismal at best. The one thing they have to their advantage is William Bligh himself: he began his naval career as a highly skilled mapmaker and carries it all in his head still, plus they have a compass. Now they have to ration and find hospitable islands to look for food and water, dodging cannibal natives as they go. If they can make it to Timor, a Dutch settlement, they have a chance, but it takes 48 days to reach it and not everyone makes it alive.

Through it all, John Jacob Turnstile, the Captain's servant and loyal companion, narrates events from his own distinct and unique perspective, with his frank opinions and saucy cheek, creating an engaging and highly readable story out of one of the most famous and well-documented mutinies in British history.

This is a modern take on an old piece of history, and having now read it I am mildly curious about the original, William Bligh's own take on what happened. There is also Caroline Alexander's The Bounty , which focuses on the court martial of the ten mutineers captured some years later. I can't make a comparison between John Boyne's interpretation of events and William Bligh's, though of course he used it as a source, but Boyne skilfully brought the voyage and the characters to life through the voice of John Jacob Turnstile.

Turnstile - nicknamed "Turnip" by the crew - has the cheek and sass of a low-born petty thief from Portsmouth, nicely balanced with his own, largely under-educated intelligence and an honourable character. The realities of his life with Mr Lewis fill out his background and add extra depth to his character, as well as propelling him forward as a protagonist who is, in effect, a minor side character to a story much bigger than him. This is Boyne's success and achievement: using a character like Turnstile, who has no direct impact on events but is an eye-witness to them, is a useful device in a story like this, but the challenge is in making him an interesting character in his own right, a character who is more than a pair of watchful eyes and perked-up ears, a character you care about and want a bright future for. Turnstile is just such a character, and without the strength of his voice, this would be a rather dull story.

It is certainly a long one, at nearly five hundred pages, and quite detailed. It has realism, a great deal of it, and is clearly well-researched. The details ring true and using a narrator who is new to life onboard a ship means we learn alongside Turnstile: we are in the same position of ignorance as he is. Reading this so soon after another book set in the South Pacific, Henderson’s Spear (though in a different time period), I learned a lot about the islands and their peoples as well as British colonial interests there.

There were a couple of inconsistencies that disrupted the flow of the narrative - for me at least. One was the age at which Turnstile entered Mr Lewis's establishment: at first he says he was five when he went to live with Mr Lewis, then later he's suddenly nine when the washerwoman who let him sleep on her floor sells him to Mr Lewis (page 113); later he retells the story as Mr Lewis finding him when he's five, living on the streets (403-4). The other inconsistency was about Mr Samuel, the ship's clerk: when Turnstile first tells us the names of the men who join the captain in the launch, he includes Mr Samuel (page 337); he's mentioned again on page 405 as being with those loyal to the captain. Later, in discussion with Mr Hall, the cook, they both share their negative opinions about Mr Samuel and express their lack of surprise that he joined the mutineers (page 449). But when the Captain takes ship back to England, he takes with him Turnstile and Mr Samuel (p.472). It's not a big detail, but they're such clear inconsistencies and they always serve to jolt me out of a story and make me second-guess what I read previously.

Without destroying Turnstile's admiration for Captain Bligh, Boyne manages to clearly convey the captain's flaws, especially in telling the story of Captain Cook's death in Hawaii (as an Australian, we learn about Cook like Americans learn about Columbus; I'd always seen, in reenactments, and heard of his death as one by spears; here he is overwhelmed and stabbed). Bligh's temperament and flaws, as well as his positive points which are admirable, are subtly captured, and through Bligh we get the persuasive opinions of the time. By the time we get Bligh's version of Captain Cook's death and the reasons behind it, which is not so subtle but still probably quite accurate for the era, we've already got a pretty good opinion of the man.

"You, sir?" I asked, wide-eyed. "You went to retrieve the stolen boat?"
"Aye, in a way. And had they surrendered it peacefully there would have been fewer consequences. But as we approached the bay it became clear that there was no peace in store for us. The natives were dotted along the tops of the cliffs, adopting war-like stances and wearing the type of garb they felt would protect them from our cutlasses and muskets. They were prepared for battle, that was clear to us all."
"But why, Captain?" I asked him. "Had they turned against you?"
"I believe so," he replied. "At first all had been well, but they did not recognize our right to their land or their produce. They were becoming belligerent about it. We had no choice but to show our strength."
"What rights, sir?" I asked, confused.
"Our rights as emissaries of the king, Turnstile," he said, staring at me as if I was the worst kind of fool. "Isn't that clear? They wanted us to leave them in peace. Savages! Ordering Englishmen away!"
"From their land."
"You're missing the point," he insisted, as if the idea was a quite simple one. "It was no longer their land when we arrived. We claimed it." [p.451]

I'm sure Bligh's opinions on the matter were standard, but I have to wonder whether Turnstile would have been so astute or "modern" in his own ideas on the matter.

Overall, despite the length of the novel which was really longer than I would have liked to spend on board the Bounty, and despite the sometimes plodding pace, this was a story that kept me reading. Being unfamiliar with the story, it wasn't immediately apparent who - which officer or sailor, that is - was behind the mutiny, though once things started happening on the island it became clear. Still, reading about how it all came about was surprisingly engrossing, and their forty-eight days of dogged survival and near-death in the launch was the best part of all, in terms of engrossing reading. I know, it sounds cruel that their suffering gave me the most enjoyment, but it really was the most gripping part of the story, precisely because the stakes were so high, the ending so uncertain (yes, even though you know they make it back because Bligh writes his own version, but you're never sure who else makes it back or what they go through in the process). Boyne's Mutiny on the Bounty is well worth reading, for the story, for the education, for the history, and it's clear why this story has continued to live on in our cultural heritage and imagination.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly one of the best books I have ever read. Probably the number one reason it was was because of the language that John Boyne used to tell the story. It is told from the perspective of a 14 year old boy who is put on the Bounty as payment for petty crimes. And his "voice" is HILARIOUS and just so unique! I'm not sure if the author researched the time and certain word usage from then or if he invented such words as "scut" or "motions". But not just the WORDS also the PHRASING were incredible! !!! This book took me forever to read because I did not want it to end! I took a long break from reading it to stretch out the story for me. I, no doubt, will read it again and again. FANTASTIC!

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read by master storyteller John Boyne, seems like I have said that many times while reading his books. The saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover is fitting for this one, not my type of subject at all and certainly the sort of book I would skip over very quickly. Had it not been a John Boyne novel it would have stayed on the shelf and the loss all mine. John Boyne is so good at taking subjects and making them interesting to the masses, this is an excellent story that I read very quickly given that it is nearly 500 pages and struggled to put it down.

The story revolves around a young pickpocket John Jacob Turnstile who when about to be convicted for his crimes is offered a lifeline that he feels worth taking. He is offered the job of personal valet to a departing naval captain who just to be captain William Bligh of the HMS Bounty. What to John Jacob Turnstile appears to be an easy choice is in fact an alternative that will threaten his life.

This is a really enjoyable read filled with many characters you perhaps you are already familiar with but with John Boyne giving it a completely different spin. Great characters, excellent storytelling and enjoyable from start to finish.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty for a long time, and I’ve seen movie versions which give their own interpretation of what actually happened on that notorious and ill fated voyage, but the story John Boyne weaves around these actual events takes the tale to another level.
He breathes life into the characters, vividly paints a picture of life on board, and gives his readers so much insight into what happened, and more importantly, why individuals acted as they did.
This is undoubtedly the best version of this story I’ve ever come across, a great read full of action, humour, human feelings and failings, and lots of fascinating historical facts....another great read from a favourite author.

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molti anni fa ho letto “Gli Ammutinati del Bounty” un romanzo affascinante scritto negli anni trenta del novecento da James Norman Hall [1887-1951] che rievoca la storica ribellione di alcuni ufficiali e marinai nei confronti del comandante della loro nave, il tenente William Bligh, permettendo a quest’ultimo, e ai marinai e ufficiali rimasti a lui fedeli, di lasciare la nave a bordo di una barca con pochi viveri verso l’impossibile impresa di raggiungere gli avamposti occidentali dell’estremo oriente mentre gli ammutinati rimanevano nella esotica atmosfera di Tahiti… un romanzo appunto per chi ama l’avventura e le affascinanti storie della vita e da cui sono stati tratti almeno un paio di film di cui uno famosissimo con il grande Marlon Brando, eppure non inferiore è stato il piacere di leggere le stesse vicende riscritte da John Boyne, lo scrittore che ha raggiunto la notorietà con il romanzo “Il bambino con il pigiama a righe” del quale ho visto la trasposizione cinematografica. Questo “Il ragazzo del Bounty” pubblicato nel 2008 è una versione che mette in luce le qualità narrative e introspettive dello scrittore e difatti è stata per me una lettura seducente e appagante su questa pagina memorabile della storia delle esplorazioni oceaniche, dei lunghi viaggi verso l’ignoto verso nuove scoperte di terre emerse allora ancora sconosciute.

[Rob Twinem · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Jacob Turnstile earns his living on the streets of Portsmouth as a petty thief. He has no real life, no real friends, employed in the services of Mr Lewis and used periodically to feed the sexual desires of propertied gentlemen. When the theft of a pocket watch leads to the arrest of young Master Turnstile it seems he is destined to spend a year incarcerated until an unexpected opportunity results in a change of fortune. John Turnstile is informed that if he joins the crew of the Bounty, on her mission to Otaheite, better known as Tahiti, he will on his return be a free man. On the Bounty he is of little importance his main role attending to the whims and desires of none other than Captain William Bligh.
 
What follows is a rollicking adventure as we sail the high seas in the company of a motley crew including the infamous Christian Fletcher. It of course comes as no surprise for me to tell you that a mutiny takes place and young Turnstile together with 18 crew members are set adrift in the Pacific ocean. Every page of John Boyne's extraordinary novel bristles with the taste and feel of what it was like to sail the high seas at the end of the 18th century. The crew faces the constant battering of inclement weather, the fear of pillaging pirates, and the threat of Scurvy, the disease of discovery,  which ravaged both body and mind, and was caused by chronic vitamin C deficiency, brought on by lack of fresh fruit and vegetables. In the second part of the book when the mutiny takes places our survivors, under the remarkable leadership of Bligh, cling to life on a minuscule diet in the hope that they can replenish and refuel at the numerous Polynesian islands in the vicinity of Tahiti. This in turn leads to further turmoil when hostile inhabitants seem content on killing our brave sailors and cannibalizing their remains.
 
From the opening paragraph to the very satisfactory, poignant and just conclusion once again John Boyne has proved himself a master storyteller. Every page of his fictional account (but based on the known facts) sparkles with energy and a vibrancy that is so often missing in writing today. It is not only a boys own adventure but a beautiful coming of age story as John Turnstile uses opportunity offered to turn himself from a worthless street urchin into a man of some standing. Readers and admirers of Boyne will be delighted at this change in direction, if the art of a storyteller  can be measured in his ability to create a narrative and compose a picture out of any situation then surely John Boyne has no equal. Wonderful colourful writing by one of my favourite authors and oh so highly recommended.
 
 

[Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌊 So this is somewhat different a telling than Nordhoff and Hall. But all the more angrifying (my word) and blood chilling for being an extensive unpacking of the tale and offering a comprehensive revelation of Captain Bligh. If you’ve read the classic fiction piece take a few hours to balance it with this account 🌊

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Boyne did not disappoint. His clever wit combined with his topnotch writing creates the perfect story about Captain Bligh and his ship The Bounty. I was mesmerized by his characters and felt like I was part of the crew as they sailed from Portsmouth to Tahiti. The story is fascinating and full of adventure as told through the eyes of young John Jacob Turnstile. Definitely recommend!

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Mr. Boyne takes a well-known event gives it a new spin and revives it into a most riveting iconic story of the sea, a sure sign of a very talented story-teller.

In a few words this is what happened to the ill-fated ship: After a long voyage on the high seas and a short stay on a sexy Polynesian paradise, the crew revolted, a mutiny led by Fletcher Christian erupted, the breadfruit-laden Bounty was seized shortly after leaving Otaheite (Tahiti) in April 1789, and the captain, William Bligh, with his followers were set adrift in a boat to fight for their lives. Miraculously the captain led his small screw back to England to a hero’s welcome and the hunt for the mutineers began and those found were rounded up and tried in London.

In this novel, the real –life John Smith, Captain Bligh’s steward, was replaced by John Jacob Turnstile, a fourteen year old street urchin who was given the choice of a year in the goal or taken service aboard the Bounty. Through John Jacob’s (Turnip) eyes we travel from the streets of Port Portmouth to a myriad of adventures. His character is a brilliant creation with a charming sharp sense of humour and the most delightful egotistical narrator.

This book is captivating, it is expertly written to describe with heart the sailing and those aboard the Bounty and with skill guides us during the 48 days the 23 foot launch held the starving men till they reached Timor. It also deals with the sexual frustration of sailors at sea, the root of their mutiny after enjoying the delights of the native women and forced to return to the ship and leave them behind. Mr. Boyne style flows smoothly and allows for the most vivid, fresh images to filter into our mind. Although I have a strong sense that historical record may have been modified to make this story the most enjoyable of fiction.

[Abril Camino · Rating 3 out of 5]

El suceso histórico del motín de la Bounty nunca ha sido algo que me interese demasiado y quizá eso haya jugado en mi contra. También las altas expectativas con un autor que está entre mis favoritos. Sin embargo, la lectura se me ha hecho muy espesa, demasiado pesada sobre todo en la parte central del libro. Es interesante la visión favorable al capitán Bligh, contraria a la cultura popular pero más cercana a investigaciones recientes de historiadores. Pero, de todos modos, no es una lectura que haya disfrutado apenas.

[Lisa - OwlBeSatReading 🦉📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, I enjoyed it, but I thought it started to drag for the last 200 pages.

[Máiréad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seriously made me feel like I was stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean, it felt so real and as if I had really experienced it myself

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow but 3 1/2 stars

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prachtige roman over een jongen die na de zoveelste misstap (en niet door eigen keuze) op het marine schip de Bounty terecht komt als scheepsjongen. Dit is een leven welke hij totaal niet kent maar hij heeft een groot aanpassingsvermogen en is snel gewend. Al heeft hij op de Bounty een uitzonderingspositie die maakt dat hij eigenlijk geen vrienden aan boord heeft. Het boek wordt verteld vanuit het perspectief van de jongen. Alsof dat hij zijn herinneringen opschrijft. Het de jongen in de gestreepte pyama ook van hem gelezen. Nu nieuwsgierig naar zijn andere boeken.

[Lyudmila Marlier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мне ужасно понравилась! Я не знаю, в чём секрет, то ли много настоящей морской жизни, как минимум, так я предстпвляю настоящую морскую жизнь. То ли опять Таити (почему-то вторая подряд книжка про Таити 🤷). Тот случай, когда и сюжет отличный, но он будто не главный, а главное - это атмосфера и декорации. Не заметила, как всё закончилось, и надо сказать, расстроилась безмерно.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed John Boyne's historical novels a few years ago, but not this one, for some unknown reason.

The 14 year old main character, John Jacob Turnstile, is found guilty of stealing, but instead of prison, he finds himself on The Bounty, a ship bound for Tahiti on the service of the King. He is assigned to work for the Captain, and is thus privy to information during the voyage.

Some readers may already be familiar with the true story of the famous mutiny, which is entertaining in itself, but the life of John Turnstile is the best thing about this book for me. I really cared about him. The author also takes a different view from the movies, and I appreciated that.

I loved the narrator, who captured John Turnstile perfectly (John Turnstile is the book's narrator).

Another five star read from Mr Boyne.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful fictional account of the mutiny on the Bounty written in a naive voice to recreate the tale as told by the green 14 year old captain’s valet. Includes some of Boyne’s typical social commentary, this time on the abuse, corruption and homosexual molestation of abandoned children, and on the class prejudices of the late 18th century.

However, a light hand and no more commentary than needed to describe the times, set the scene for a pleasantly creative take on the notorious British Navy mis-adventure in the South Pacific.

The reader is introduced to some surprisingly sympathetic, upright characters, some easily led jacks of limited moral fibre and to some nasty narcissistic, entitled cads. Good stuff.

[Natasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about this book is wonderful - the details and facts of the story themselves are so interesting and all the more awesome because they are true, and they are told in a way that had me totally consumed. 

[Caroline-Marnix Degeest-Vandenbroeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie kent er niet de muiterij van de bounty ...daar een verhaal overschrijven in de ogen van een scheepsjongen , is een geslaagd verhaal .. mooi weergegeven hoe hard het leven was op de boot en hoe men moest overleven na de muiterij en meer dan 40 dagen rondvaren op een sloep ....een aanrader voor mensen die graag historische verhaal lezen

[TBV (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It was a terrible game, no more than that. A fight between us men and nature, in which we were struggling to keep ourselves from annihilation.”

Imagine being crammed in a launch (23 foot/7 metres) with several others, in the middle of nowhere with a minum of food most carefully rationed, and having for several weeks to endure storms at sea, sunburn, etc. without any comforts or equipment. Imagine having to row this boat from close to Tofua all the way to Timor (over 3,500 nautical miles - 6,500 km or 4,000 miles) under these conditions, longing to stop at the Fiji islands to rest and find food, but unable to do so as they were occupied by cannibals. This is what faced the ship's captain and some of the men when there was a mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. The English ship's mission was to collect breadfruit plants in Tahiti/Otaheite, and the ship's captain was Lieutenant William Bligh who had previously been the Master of Resolution under Captain James Cook. The above is history with which many of us are familiar, perhaps from watching one of several films* made of it, so it is not a spoiler. However, for those unfamiliar with the story I won't divulge the outcome.

This is John Boyne's retelling of that history, and whilst he sticks to facts to a large extent, there are some fictional aspects. First of all his narrator is a fictional young lad of fourteen named John Jacob Turnstile. A pickpocket to be precise, employed by a Mr Lewis, a sort of Fagin as per Dickens's Oliver Twist. Without disclosing how John Jacob gets to be on the Bounty, suffice to say that he does as this story is after all about the Bounty. The actual Captain's servant was a boy called John Smith, but in Mr Boyne's version of events poor John Smith had a nasty accident and was replaced with our fictional John Jacob, generally referred to as Turnip.

John Jacob is a very intelligent boy (at times he seems mature beyond his years), but a little rough around the edges. Initially one has the impression of a young boy having fun with his pick pocketing, and the tone of the book is quite humorous. However, as the story progresses the reader learns that there is a very dark and tragic side to this boy's life. This is to some extent a coming of age story for John Jacob, but in some ways he was already old and experienced at a very young age. In this tale John Jacob learns about “Duty, loyalty and good service.”.

All the other people who were present in the actual event in 1789 (save of course poor John Smith) are present, and are fleshed out quite nicely. In keeping with the time and place islanders are called savages, and women are treated purely as sex objects by the sailors. “They don’t live like us there, you see. Not like decent people. They’ve no civilization there like what we ‘ave in England, which means we can do what we want to them and take them whenever we want. They love it, you see, on account of the fact that we’re a civilized people.” Nice bit of irony there but I am sure that, horrible as it is, this was in fact how those sailors spoke of the islanders at that time and how they behaved towards the women.

The mutineers turning Lt Bligh and some of the officers and crew adrift from His Majesty's Ship HMS Bounty by Robert Dodd (Wikipedia)

[Juxian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars.
It's the third book by John Boyne I've read and they all are so very different I can't say I have some definite notion about the author. 'Crippen' seemed cold to me; 'The Absolutist' was cruel and thought provoking. But 'Mutiny on the Bounty' is warm, kind, naive at times, touching and beautiful.
I think everyone knows the story of the Bounty - or thinks they know it, from one of the movies. And the story is fascinating: a cruel captain, a young rebel who starts a mutiny to bring the seamen to their beloved on Tahiti. Well, stories become archetypal for a reason. "Christian versus Bligh has come to represent rebellion versus authoritarianism, a life constrained versus a life of freedom, sexual repression versus sexual licence," quoting Wikipedia.
That was what I was expecting with pleasure when I started reading :) So I was pretty shocked when it turned out the author has taken a totally opposite approach to the story. And, judging from what I found out, a lot more historically true approach. And after reading the book I feel very happy about it. Literary merits of the book aside, I think it was a noble thing John Boyne did: at least somewhat restoring historical justice. Of course, it all happened a long time ago - but still, it's unfair that people remember only one truth now, which, by the way, isn't the truth at all.
Anyway, I enjoyed the book A LOT. The main character, John Jacob Turnstile, was wonderful and it was a great fun to get to know him. One thing that didn't make me quite happy was that sometimes the author modernized him shamelessly. Like no stretch on imagination would ever make me believe that a 14-year-old boy in the 18th century, with John's origin and history, would have thought or said such 21st-century politically-correct things. I'd prefer the author allowed readers to think a little bit by themselves what's right and wrong, not verbalize everything through John.
But I still loved John, and Captain Bligh was... he was an amazing character, so human with all the wrongs in him and so charismatic at the same time that you would easily understand John's decisions. It also has a perfect ending that makes me smile and wipe tears even right now.
A lovely, lovely book, and I'm happy I've read it.

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story narrated by Captain Bligh's cabn boy - Turnstile - or Turnip as he's affectionately known. I have a different view of events having read this book. I think I was brought up to see Christian Fletcher as a decent man - hmm - now I don't think that so much. Mr. Boyne has cleverly shown that there are two sides - at least - to every story. I bought this book for my husband who loves all things naval but he gave up after one chapter because it was written in the first person. I'm going to persuade him to give it another go though the amount of actual seafaring detail was probably less than he'd like, I still think he'd enjoy it. I loved the main character - though I did wonder at how well spoken and well bred he appeared to be at times considering the way he'd been brought up.
I devoured the book in a day. If you like historically based adventures and don't mind the viewpoint of a 14-16 year old boy, give this a try!

[Deb Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m somewhat surprised that Mr. Boyne’s books are so hard to find. There were no copies at my library. Regardless, yet another absolutely enthralling historical fiction novel! If I knew about Mutiny on the Bounty I’d forgotten. Fabulous book.