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Thanks Doug,

Captain Bligh is one of the most misunderstood and perhaps the most
unjustifiably slandered Captain in history. The last book that I read about
this man was "Captain Bligh: The Man and His Mutinies" by Gavin Kennedy.
Bligh was, according to this book, one of the more humane Captains in the
British Navy. Unfortunately for him, he was a nit picking perfectionist and
demanded 110% of his officers. If he did not get that, he would often berate
them in a barrage of blue smoke. As far as his men, he was always concerned
with their health. Apparently made them take their ascorbic acid and do
calisthenics on deck to keep them in shape. Bligh was also a superb
navigator.

It irks me to no end that he continues to be depicted as a tyrant.

If you like Shackleton (as I do) then you may have already read the book
"Shackleton" by Roland Huntford and "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing. I
consider Frank Worsley's navigation from Elephant Island to South Georgia
Island to be the greatest ever feat of navigation. The funny thing is,
whenever I think about it, it is not the 100 foot monster waves, the fear,
the hunger and the deprivation that gets to me. It is the thought of
Worsley's sextant being subjected to a continual bathing of salt spray
without the benefit of a nightly cleaning. It makes me squirm.

When you finish reading the book on Bligh, perhaps you would be so kind as
to give us a book review.

cheers,

Robert


----- Original Message -----
From: "Royer, Doug" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 3:07 PM
Subject: HMS Bounty


> All,
> I obtained a hardbacked copy of a new(2003) Mutiny on the Bounty story.
> It is called "The Bounty" by Caroline Alexander.She also wrote the book
"The
> Endurance" a few years ago that was very well researched and written.I
> picked that book up because as I explaned to G. Huxtable a while back
> Shackleton was one of my boyhood heroes.
> This new book(I only started it,now on pg 59)is very interesting and
> somewhat differant from the story I read as a kid.This book is very well
> researched and may shead some new light on what happened to Bligh and all
> involved.
> Just thought I would share the above if anyone is interested.
>
>

   

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