A great collection of original documents about the Mutiny on the Bounty. Together they tell as good a sea yarn as any novel, complete with a Rashomon-like quality as two parties to the mutiny see everything in precisely opposite ways -- while agreeing on fragments of key details. There is some repetition, especially in some of the transcripts from the trial and testimonial letters on the character of Captain Bligh. This repetition, however, contributes to an almost biblical quality to the text as it lists names after names, retells the same story from different perspectives, and compiles narratives with more straightforward information.

Specifically, the items included in this volume are:

--Captain's Bligh's account of the mutiny and his 4,000 mile journey to safety in a long boat following it. Told in precise nautical terms -- dwelling less on the mutiny and more on how he survived following it and what he discovered in the process.

--A partial transcript of the court martial of the mutineers compiled with an appendix by Edward Christian, brother of the chief mutineer Fletcher Christian. This is intended to be largely exculpatory for his brother, arguing the Bligh was a borderline-psychotic taskmaster.

--A reply to the Appendix by Bligh and a short reply-to-the-reply by Christian.

--Captain's Bligh's orders and discoveries.

--An account of a mutineer captured on Tahiti and his transport back to England.

--Two news accounts of the discovery of the last surviving mutineer on Pitcairn Island in the Pacific.

--An account by "Jenny," who lived on Pitcairn Island.