Mutiny By: John Boyne

This book was absolutely a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have read some of the non-fiction accounts of the Bounty, the mutiny, and the great Captain Bligh -- so I was a little hesitant of what this story might contain. Some times I have difficulty reading a historical fiction account about a subject, with which I am already familiar. There is frequently so many glaring disparities between the story, and the actual history that I find it frustrating.

However, this book did not fall victim to this problem. The story was well told, and done so in a manner that I found completely engaging to the reader. In addition, it provided a great presentation of the characters, both fictional, and non-fictional. This book avoided the temptation to paint Captain Bligh as the great martyred hero, while Fletcher Christian is the troubled, unscrupulous villain that has no moral character, or values. From the beginning, the events presented explore many of the problems that actually lead to the mutiny itself, both those that involved Captain Bligh, as well as those that involved the rest of the crew. Many of the combined elements that led to this tragedy are all explored here -- without the whitewash effect of being apologetic.

Told from an outside account, it is also presented in such a manner, through the eyes of a young man that has a great deal of growth and development to make through the course of the story, so as to draw the reader in and place them in the middle of the action. True to the era for which it was written about, I didn't come away from this book feeling like the story is being told by a 21st century author -- about a 19th century story. The language, mannerisms, customs, and even the interaction of the characters all remain true to the time frame in which the story is cast -- and allows the reader to enter another era, and experience the mutiny of the Bounty first hand.

This is a great book to read -- and I would recommend it to anyone that has a taste for well done historical fiction.