Donald A. Maxton – författare

On April 28, 1789, a band of mutineers turned an ordinary voyage into an unforgettable legend. The conflict between Lieutenant William Bligh and Master's Mate Fletcher Christian of the H.M.S. Bounty is one of the most famous stories in maritime history. Many volumes have been written about the mutiny, its protagonists and its aftermath on Pitcairn Island.From Bligh's firsthand account in 1790 through 2006, this copiously illustrated reference book examines more than 1700 books, articles and other materials dealing with the mutiny and its legacy.Major works, including nonfiction accounts, fiction, poetry, articles, plays and movies, are given analytical discussions. These works (presented chronologically) trace the history of the emotions and opinions of the public, allowing consideration of each work within the cultural and scholarly context of its period. Lesser works and related readings, also annotated, are provided as well. Appendices direct readers to Internet resources and notable documentaries. The book is thoroughly indexed.

This is the first complete publication of a rare collection of letters and poems written from 1790 to 1792--many of which have never appeared in print--telling the true story of Peter Heywood, a young Royal Navy midshipman on H.M.S. Bounty accused of mutiny, and his devoted sister, Nessy, who worked tirelessly to save him from being condemned and executed for this crime. This edition is a faithful transcription of a manuscript held at the Newberry Library in Chicago--one of only five surviving manuscripts.

Popular films about the Bounty mutiny only scratch the surface. This rebellion on a British vessel in 1789 sparked the voyages of H.M.S. Pandora--dispatched to track down the mutineers and return them to England for court-martial--and the Matavy, a schooner built by the mutineers in Tahiti.This is the first book to include eyewitness accounts from five men who endured these voyages. Presented in overlapping, chronological order are the first publication of a narrative by a member of Matavy's crew, who vividly describes a desperate struggle to survive with meager provisions among islands filled with hostile natives. A previously unpublished poem by an anonymous sailor on Pandora recounts the ship's sinking, the survivors' tortuous journey to the Dutch East Indies, and their return to England. The captain's unedited statement on the loss of Pandora is included and appendices summarize the Bounty and Pandora courts-martial and the later history of each narrator.

In 1787 the Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty, captained by William Bligh, set sail for Tahiti in search of breadfruit plants. Soon after leaving Tahiti, Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian led a successful revolt, setting Bligh and eighteen of his men adrift. In his journal, Boatswain’s Mate James Morrison recounts the Bounty’s voyage, placing considerable blame for the mutiny on Bligh’s irascible personality and style of command.This event, however, only introduces Morrison’s remarkable journey through the South Seas. A born storyteller, Morrison pens compelling tales of the time after the mutiny, beginning with ringleader Fletcher Christian’s two ill-fated attempts to establish a refuge on the island of Tubuai. Morrison then recounts his eighteen-month sojourn on Tahiti, where he constructed a seaworthy schooner and closely observed the island and its way of life. He tells of the subsequent arrival of HMS Pandora, which was charged with bringing the mutineers back to England for trial, and his imprisonment in the horrific “Pandora’s Box.” Morrison once again faces peril when the Pandora sinks on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where thirty-one of the crew and four prisoners perished.Although Morrison did not actively participate in the Bounty insurrection, he had remained with Fletcher Christian’s party, which was enough evidence for his eventual condemnation. While imprisoned, Morrison began composing his journal. King George III granted a pardon, and soon after his release, Morrison wrote the second half of the journal, which he filled with detailed descriptions of Tahitian life, culture, and natural history. Morrison’s journal is an invaluable resource for naval and cultural historians and an enthralling tale for the general reader.