John Jacob Turnstile survived. For 48 days he and his companions have been trying to navigate unfamiliar seas in an effort to get to Timor and safety. Their fate dictated by treacherous mutineers. They finally arrived, starving, dehydrated and exhausted. Through their ordeal they were guided by probably the best navigator and chart maker of his day, William Bligh!
I have just finished reading Mutiny On The Bounty by John Boyne and loved it. When I start a historical novel I am filled with expectation. I want it to be a great read, force me think differently about the world, and if possible learn something new. From the first page where we meet John Jacob Turnstile, to the last, I was hooked. The book retells the voyage of the Bounty under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh, which set out from Portsmouth in 1787 for Tahiti. The journey took longer than expected. The crew were at sea for almost a year before reaching their goal, Tahiti, an island paradise that few wanted to leave.
I enjoyed the book for many reasons:
- The story is well told
- I liked many of the characters
- There are heroes and villains
- The skill and determination of Bligh
- The coming of age of Turnstile
- A view of a very different and very tough world
The first time I learned of the story of William Bligh and the Bounty was when I saw the 1935 film Mutiny On The Bounty starring Charles Laughton as Bligh and Clark Gable as Fletcher Christian (leader of the mutineers). That film, although excellent, appears inaccurate, as it portrays Bligh as a cruel commander and Christian as the crew’s saviour. The John Boyne book takes a completely different view, more in keeping with evidence from the ship’s logs. But even if the story is not accurate, that 1935 film is excellent.
So is the 1960 version with Trevor Howard as Bligh and Marlon Brando as Christian. And it doesn’t end there. There is a 1984 version with Anthony Hopkins as Bligh and Mel Gibson as Christian. The fact that the story has been turned into a movie so many times is an indication of how fascinating it is.
Watch the films certainly, they are all great. But if you want a story rich with adventure and excitement, a well told yarn that won’t disappoint, then read the John Boyne book. As with the best historical novels, you get an insight into a way of life that is completely alien to us in our modern world. I find it difficult to understand why anyone with a choice would opt to set sail, attempt to round Cape Horn and travel the long way to Tahiti via the Cape of Good Hope. Perhaps most of the sailors had no choice, but Bligh and Christian certainly had.
Bligh has a connection with Ireland and he is responsible (among others) for one of Dublin’s largest landmarks. In 1801 Bligh presented a survey of Dublin Bay which assisted in the subsequent building of a sea wall to prevent Dublin bay silting up and becoming dangerous for shipping. Dublin’s North Bull Island, great for swimming, bird watching and kite surfing, has developed naturally since the building of this wall. 200 years of silting resulting in Dublin Bay having a monument to Bligh.
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I didn’t realise it when I wrote the post but a replica of the bounty has been in Cobh for the last few days and today is making its way to Galway. More details here.
This site has additional information about Bligh, the Bounty and the crew.