The Bounty.

THE BOUNTY. Caroline Alexander. 2003. Read by Simon Prebble. 10 tapes. 15 hrs. Penguin Audiobooks. $49.95. Cardboard; content, author, reader notes. SA

Nobody doubts that William Bligh was an extraordinarily capable seaman. Yet in spite of this, he was the victim of one of the most infamous mutinies in British naval history. Legend has it that the mutiny was the result of Bligh's tyrannical ways driving his crew to desperate measures, but this absorbing book tells a different story. Anderson gives a vivid picture of what life was like in the British Navy of the 18th century: brutally hard labor and punishments and unquestioned obedience to the captain; and by these standards Bligh was not an unreasonable disciplinarian. But being low on the admiralty's priority list, Bligh's voyage was not provided with the usual marines to protect him from the crew, hence the mutiny. Anderson examines the court martial that investigated the mutiny, the subsequent careers of Bligh, the mutineers, and the chief mutineers, Fletcher Christian and Peter Heywood (who were from powerful, politically connected families who were able to use connections to rewrite history to absolve themselves of blame), and comes to new conclusions.

A well-written, gripping, and sobering look at the role of power and influence in determining innocence or guilt of even the most heinous crimes. Prebble offers an outstanding reading; his voice is well modulated and his timing is perfect. This book will appeal to a wide audience. Susan Offner, Teacher, Lexington H.S., Lexington, MA