Rating: 
Summary: One of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
Review: The very last story, Pitcairn Island, might be the most interesting account of real events I have ever read. It tells the story of Fletcher Christian and his band of deserters after they take command of the HMS Bounty. They seek out an isolated island that the British Navy will never be able to find. Without giving away too much, their utopian community soon starts being torn apart by jealousy, greed, and alcoholism. Mid story, after a horrific series of events, the story flashes into the future when a whaling vessle passes close to a steep isolated island. The captain reluctantly pays a visit to the lone male leader of the island and it soon dawns on him that this is the ONLY survivor of the Bounty mutineers! This is a great moment in the book that somehow manages to tug at the heart after all that has gone on before. The story then jumps back to tell the remainder of the story in one of the most interesting studies of human nature out there.
This story is devoid of "bad guys". The native men have their point of view, the women have their view, and the English have their views - not as groups but as individuals. All of them want to live in a peaceful utopia, but they also have their own wants, which often conflict with each other. They all have their flaws, most rooted in 18th century beliefs, but none of them are evil.
After reading personal notes of Bligh and factual accounts I'm convinced Bligh was in fact a good person who was perhaps too lenient with his crew rather than too harsh. He even let women stay aboard the ship overnight while at Tahiti and the health of his crew was always his top priority. He was probably acerbic and sarcastic, but he was also brilliant and resourceful, being able to make a tremendous voyage home in what is essentially a life boat with a sail, without navigational equipment or proper rations. Christian, though usually painted as a romantic hero who was forced into mutiny, in fact did not mutineer because he was fed up with being treated harshly. He mutineered because after 23 days at sea he desperately wanted to get back to paradise and the woman he loved. That is why he mutineered. He essentially consigned Bligh and his officers to a horrible death by setting them adrift in the middle of the ocean all in the name of his own selfish needs (and in fact several did die after Bligh got them back to British territory). So why is the story often told to make Bligh look evil and Christian the romantic hero? Many reasons, but perhaps the subliminal reason has to do with names. His name sounds like Blight, giving people an automatic dislike of him. Also, he was the authority figure, which people like to take shots at. Fletcher Christian was good looking and his name has Christ in it, making him appear like the hero of the drama. Another note about names, the incident is known as "Mutiny on the Bounty", which just sounds too good. The ship was originally called "Bethia" but renamed at the last minute. Do you really think a story of "The Mutiny on the Bethia" would be nearly as popular? I doubt it. Somehow the contrast of Bounty (prosperous) with Mutiny (revolt) makes a great title. This is one event in history where everything just lined up for an incredible story.
Rating:
Summary: A magnficent story of wonder, adventure, and leadership.
Review: This book is, quite simply, a fabulous trilogy of novels. It deals, of course, with the two-year voyage of HMS Bounty from England to Tahiti, the captaincy of Captain William Bligh, the mutiny against him, and the aftermath. This is an unforgettable story, beautifully told, well-written, and fast-paced.I have read reviews here and there that claim this book is written at a "young adult" level. Not so. This is a complex story that only seems to be easily told because the author has mastered the ability to write with utter clarity, and without sacrificing style. As one who reads all day for a living (attorney) I have learned to appreciate authors who can write well. Nordhoff does this--the reader never loses the storyline because it is well told. The novels proceed with the precision of a laser beam but with a poetic, wistful, thoughtful tone that is a delight to read. This book has class. The story of the trip to Tahiti and the mutiny which takes place early on the return voyage are wonderfully told. The ONLY possible criticism is that this story is not terribly true to the facts of the actual mutiny. The protagonist, Roger Byam, is an imaginary person. By the way, this novel is the source for the first of the Mutiny on the Bounty movies starring Charles Laughton. The other two novels in the trilogy deal with the voyage by Captain Bligh and those of the crew who remained loyal to him, and the aftermath of the mutiny when the mutineers settle on Pitcairn Island. Both stories are first-rate. Persons interested in a somewhat more accurate depiction of what happened on the Bounty voyage, as well as a ripping good movie, will want to see "The Bounty" starring Mel Gibson (Fletcher Christian) and Anthony Hopkins (Captain Bligh). The Bounty Trilogy is a book anyone who enjoys adventure will want to read and own.
Rating:
Summary: A magnficent story of wonder, adventure, and leadership.
Review: This book is, quite simply, a fabulous trilogy of novels. It deals, of course, with the two-year voyage of HMS Bounty from England to Tahiti, the captaincy of Captain William Bligh, the mutiny against him, and the aftermath. This is an unforgettable story, beautifully told, well-written, and fast-paced. I have read reviews here and there that claim this book is written at a "young adult" level. Not so. This is a complex story that only seems to be easily told because the author has mastered the ability to write with utter clarity, and without sacrificing style. As one who reads all day for a living (attorney) I have learned to appreciate authors who can write well. Nordhoff does this--the reader never loses the storyline because it is well told. The novels proceed with the precision of a laser beam but with a poetic, wistful, thoughtful tone that is a delight to read. This book has class. The story of the trip to Tahiti and the mutiny which takes place early on the return voyage are wonderfully told. The ONLY possible criticism is that this story is not terribly true to the facts of the actual mutiny. The protagonist, Roger Byam, is an imaginary person. By the way, this novel is the source for the first of the Mutiny on the Bounty movies starring Charles Laughton. The other two novels in the trilogy deal with the voyage by Captain Bligh and those of the crew who remained loyal to him, and the aftermath of the mutiny when the mutineers settle on Pitcairn Island. Both stories are first-rate. Persons interested in a somewhat more accurate depiction of what happened on the Bounty voyage, as well as a ripping good movie, will want to see "The Bounty" starring Mel Gibson (Fletcher Christian) and Anthony Hopkins (Captain Bligh). The Bounty Trilogy is a book anyone who enjoys adventure will want to read and own.
Rating:
Summary: This is an amazing epic and well worth the read.
Review: This is an amazing epic of 18th mutiny of the H.M.S. Bounty. Although the tale has been fictionalized as an historical novel, it portrays the conflicting cultures of that time as the forces of racism, imperialism, autonomy and autocracy clash on the high seas. The trilogy is comprised of three novels: The first is Mutiny on the Bounty which chronicles the abuse of Captain Bligh, the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian narrated by midshipmen Roger Byam. Men Against the Sea, narrated by ships surgeon Thomas Ledward, picks up the tale at the mutiny and chronicles the amazing feat of Captain Bligh in returning 19 souls to England after being set adrift in a twenty-three foot longboat with only seven or eight inches of freeboard. The trilogy concludes with the tragic, yet redeeming tale of Pitcairn's Island where the mutineers made their home. On the surface, Captain Bligh is the villain and Fletcher Christian is the hero. This has been ingrained into our culture to such an extent that any hard-driving taskmaster will not doubt inherit the name Captain Bligh by those under his charge. Yet, Nordoff and Hall resist the temptation to draw these lines so clearly. Yes, Captain Bligh was his own worst enemy. He was so sold out to an autocratic model of leadership that he was incapable of recognizing the autonomy of his men- the needs of his men were subordinate to the success of his mission. Now, men will often subordinate their needs to the need of the mission, or even give their lives for it, if the mission is a noble one; but supplying breadfruit to feed slaves did not fit that bill. Yet, once set adrift, Bligh now becomes the hero navigating his overloaded longboat 3600 miles to safety- a deed that must rank as one of the most remarkable feats of seamanship and leadership in history. This is also a story of imperialism and racism- the two are inexorably intertwined. British imperialism, carrying the white mans burden to the South Seas, lead to the inevitable conflict between the two races. The sailors, obviously enjoyed the company of the Tahitian woman, even fell in love with them; yet, the idea that the white race was superior was a festering boil just under the surface that exploded when the mutineers made their home on Pitcairn Island. It is interesting to note who was the more civilized race when the conflict arose on Pitcairns Island, the European men acted like savages, whereas we see a measured dignity among the Tahitian men. What I find interesting about the other reviews written on this book, is the omission to mention what specially brought peace to the Island- it was the rediscovery of the Bible and man's submission to the will of God. Without transcendent values, each man was out for himself and the result was anarchy and death; but when the survivors submitted their will to God's will, peace and harmony was restored. This is an amazing epic and well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: This is an amazing epic and well worth the read.
Review: This is an amazing epic of 18th mutiny of the H.M.S. Bounty. Although the tale has been fictionalized as an historical novel, it portrays the conflicting cultures of that time as the forces of racism, imperialism, autonomy and autocracy clash on the high seas. The trilogy is comprised of three novels: The first is Mutiny on the Bounty which chronicles the abuse of Captain Bligh, the mutiny led by Fletcher Christian narrated by midshipmen Roger Byam. Men Against the Sea, narrated by ships surgeon Thomas Ledward, picks up the tale at the mutiny and chronicles the amazing feat of Captain Bligh in returning 19 souls to England after being set adrift in a twenty-three foot longboat with only seven or eight inches of freeboard. The trilogy concludes with the tragic, yet redeeming tale of Pitcairn's Island where the mutineers made their home. On the surface, Captain Bligh is the villain and Fletcher Christian is the hero. This has been ingrained into our culture to such an extent that any hard-driving taskmaster will not doubt inherit the name Captain Bligh by those under his charge. Yet, Nordoff and Hall resist the temptation to draw these lines so clearly. Yes, Captain Bligh was his own worst enemy. He was so sold out to an autocratic model of leadership that he was incapable of recognizing the autonomy of his men- the needs of his men were subordinate to the success of his mission. Now, men will often subordinate their needs to the need of the mission, or even give their lives for it, if the mission is a noble one; but supplying breadfruit to feed slaves did not fit that bill. Yet, once set adrift, Bligh now becomes the hero navigating his overloaded longboat 3600 miles to safety- a deed that must rank as one of the most remarkable feats of seamanship and leadership in history. This is also a story of imperialism and racism- the two are inexorably intertwined. British imperialism, carrying the white mans burden to the South Seas, lead to the inevitable conflict between the two races. The sailors, obviously enjoyed the company of the Tahitian woman, even fell in love with them; yet, the idea that the white race was superior was a festering boil just under the surface that exploded when the mutineers made their home on Pitcairn Island. It is interesting to note who was the more civilized race when the conflict arose on Pitcairns Island, the European men acted like savages, whereas we see a measured dignity among the Tahitian men. What I find interesting about the other reviews written on this book, is the omission to mention what specially brought peace to the Island- it was the rediscovery of the Bible and man's submission to the will of God. Without transcendent values, each man was out for himself and the result was anarchy and death; but when the survivors submitted their will to God's will, peace and harmony was restored. This is an amazing epic and well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: AYE, LAD, A ROUSING TALE
Review: This is one of the greatest seafaring stories ever told--the ill-fated voyage of His Majesty's armed transport Bounty . . . under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh.
The three novels which comprise this trilogy vividly illuminate the tragic collision of two implacable personalities--William Bligh and Fletcher Christian. Both men were unquestionably capable, courageous, and born leaders. Mr. Bligh ruled by intimidation; Mr. Christian by persuasion. Arguably, it's a parable of two ages, two incompatible social attitudes--the stifling aristocracy of the 18th century, and the burgeoning democracy of the 19th--smashing head-on aboard a cramped vessel in the middle of the Pacific.
Briefly, the three novels:
Mutiny On The Bounty. As seen through the eyes of a young, inexperienced midshipman, on his first voyage, witnessing the outlandish temper tantrums of a captain seemingly bent on inciting a riot--all but daring his men to strike back. Juxtaposed against this reign of terror is the heavenly beauty of the South Pacific and the island of Tahiti, where a simple society lives in quiet, natural splendor, without the bonds of an orderly "civilization." But of course the British are indomitable.
Men Against The Sea. What becomes of William Bligh after he and 18 loyal men are set adrift on the morning of the mutiny? Nothing short of the greatest feat of navigation and survival known to man. For more than forty days and nights, Bligh's fathomless nastiness is channeled into battling starvation, thirst, scalding heat, horrific storms, and hopelessness--aboard an open boat so overcrowded that one could never be free of the touch of one's fellow passengers--nay, not one man was able to lay down with his legs stretched out for even a minute. Not to mention, any island they came upon, offering fresh fruit and water, was peopled by savages who liked nothing better than to bash white men's brains out with a club. But Bligh prevailed.
Pitcairn's Island. And what becomes of Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers after Bligh is set adrift? Wracked with guilt for his crime--both against Bligh and his cohorts for condemning them to a fugitive's life--Christian struggles to find a home for his men among the still-uncharted islands of the Pacific. He ultimately discovers the uninhabited Pitcairn's Island, and all hands agree to settle there. At first, the mutineers and their Tahitian wives and friends create a harmonious society upon this beautiful isle. But too soon prejudice and avarice take root, and their Garden of Eden spirals down into a veritable Hell. Only as they reach the point of extinction do the inhabitants reign in their wantonness, and work together as a whole, and actually do create a new Eden of mutual respect and love . . . but only after an appalling loss of life.
I unreservedly recommend this book.
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