Views of History: The Mutiny on the Bounty

[rochvelleth]

100 Historical Things, Number 12

On this day in 1789 was the famous Mutiny on the Bounty. This is an event that has been celebrated often in works of historical fiction, including Byron's poem The Island and movies in 1935 (Clark Gable as Christian), 1962 (Marlon Brando as Christian)
and 1984 (Mel Gibson as Christian).[1] But what exactly are they

Comments

[thymelady]

It is fascinating, especially Pitcairn Island where the sailors ended up, no less by the fact that its history has been very sad and upsetting of late. But the descendants live there, the dialect is interesting, the isolation and what it does to people; all add up to a story showing that reality is more baffling than fiction.

I liked your post where we had a chance to share our own greatest interests in history! Sadly, I had no time commenting. There might be a belated one. ;-)

[neaptidea]

Jumping in here because? The Mutiny on the Bounty :).
I've read quite a lot about it and I have at least the Brando and Gibson movies on DVD, not sure of the Glark Gable one.

I had hoped to see the replica of the ship (built for the Brando movie) when I visited St. Petersburg, Florida, some years ago. I had heard it would be there but sadly it had already sailed elsewhere.

Well, there might not be a single truth to what happened, but I find it interesting how the popular opinion of historical events changes over time. Fletcher Christian is considered the 'good guy' nowadays, but he'd probably been hanged if he had been captured. Not that that would necessarily prevent him to be the hero, obviously, but there would be less material for us to see him in heroic light.

[I don't know if I'm making sense... it's late. I better stop ;) ]

[denorios]

I read a really good book about the Mutiny on the Bounty a few months back - it was fascinating. I'd never really known all that much about it before.

I totally like the idea of Richard Armitage as Christian. Although, hell, I like the idea of Richard Armitage in just about anything.