Mutiny on the Bounty (Dover Literature: Nonfiction)

If you are interested at all in the Bounty and its mutiny, you really should read Captain Bligh's first hand account. The book reads very well and turns into an inspirational survival story. What Bligh and the others on his launch went through after the mutiny is incredible. For some days on end, they existed on little or nothing more than less than one ounce of bread and two ounces of water. I enjoy reading stories like this, not because of schadenfreude (taking joy in their misfortune), but rather for inspiration. If they can endure their hardships and meet their challenges, how difficult are the challenges of my life, really?

I believe Bligh's journey of 3,618 miles in 41 sailing days is a testament to his seamanship, courage and character, an incredible adventure. The fact everyone survived, except one sailor killed by natives (mostly likely saving the entire crew), was certainly against all odds. Bligh's journal also survived, again against all odds, allowing for his story to be told in his words. I've always wanted to read Bligh's account and it was well worth it. Granted it's not for everyone, but if you are interested in the story of the HMS Bounty, this is a must read.

Before reading this book, I didn't know that Bligh had sailed with Captain Cook or that he had discovered so many islands and that the world was still not very well charted in the late 1700's which makes his sailing over 3000 miles in a small boat that much more incredible. This book makes it clear that the mutineers were swept away with passion for women they had met in Tahihi and that Bligh was a reasonable ships Captain who truly cared for his crew. Bligh appears to have written the book for cartographers and other sailors as much as he did for anyone else interested. It's a great adventure story told in vivid detail.

While some of the reading is a tad tedious, the experience is amazing. Much like reading Meep Gieze as an adult after reading Anne Frank as a child, reading of the voyage of the Bounty as told by Captain Bligh is quite thing. I'd keep a globe handy if possible. Captn Bligh reports latitude and longitude frequently enough so that it would be frustrating to not be able to spin the globe and see just where his reporting is coming from. The frequently reported lat and long underscore the importance of the the time piece, and the importance of knowing just how fast or slow the time piece was running. Keep in mind that after attempting to go by way of Cape Horn, below South America, they had to change plans, and got authorization to go the other way! Around the Cap eof Good Hope, the southern tip of Africa. A globe is really what you'll want next to you as you read this amazing yarn. Oh, by the way, it is true.As a proponent of "context sensitive reading," I'll save some of the book (I have it on Kindle and softcover) and finish it, the softcover, while sailing on a 90' schooner sailing out of Key West. I'll read some Hemingway while sitting on a bench at his Key West house, hoping a six toed cat will join me.I was surprised that the Bounty was re-commissioned specifically for picking up bread fruit trees in one place and carrying them and then planting them in another. Their goal was to attempt to aid in proliferating this most useful tree. It was found in a limited area in the South Pacific with no obvious reason to expect it to struggle in any similar climate. Aided by Captain Cook's route and notes from just a few years earlier, the Bounty in spite of mutinous winds, completed its voyage to some tiny specks of sand in the middle of a rather large ocean The Bounty a re-fitted was only 90 feet deck length (not waterline) and 24' beam. So it was NOT very long, I'm guessing 75' or not much more water-line length, and a 24 ' beam on that ship would have been REALLY wide. I'm guessing a "normal" bream might be 18' or so. More beam to me means more stability, a flatter ride, less draft (how much water it needs to not run aground). It also means LOTS of room for the bread fruit treesWhat I know is coming, and what is truly amazing, is that after being put to sea with others in the ship's boat, Capt. Bligh first sailed about 30 nautical miles to land. One of the crew was killed by rifle fire from shore. Captain Bligh then sailed 3500 nautical miles to safety without losing one additional crew member.

This is NOT the same as the novel, beware! The title is the same, and the author is the same, but the classic novel also has another author. This is more-or-less the captain's log of his voyage before and after the mutiny. If you like details of where the ship is located each day, this is a good book for you. If you're looking for the traditional story, however, keep looking!

So far Gripping story by the man at the center of the mutiny

I expected to learn more about the mutiny - it was barely mentioned. Very boring book of longitudes and latitudes every day. Obviously a ship's log. Not at all interesting to me.

Good book, good price

Great account of remarkable journey by 18 men in an open boat for 42 days with very little food or water, attacked by islanders.Proof that Bligh was the good guy and a great sailor and navigator. Christian was the villain.The Best Movie is the Anthony Hopkins version it tells the truth.The Charles Laughton one was the the Hollywood version of the mutiny,fiction but enjoyable no less

Enjoyable and enlightening read, but also difficult in parts due to all the map and compass positions, understandable though due to it being the log of Captain Bligh. Recommend for anyone who wishes to learn about a harsh incident in naval history and evidence that anything can be accomplished when there is a blatant refusal to not quit.

An interesting if heavy going read ( the position reports are a bit of a drag ).

Interesting account of a famous historical course of events. Particularly interesting is the way in which Bligh portrays himself as a fair captain, but then I guess he would. Lots of mariner jargon but otherwise an enjoyable book

Well received gift. Easy to read in small chunks.