A revisionist history of the Mutiny on the Bounty with a different take, the author seeing it first and foremost as the breaking daily news of a trial that mesmerized a great seafaring nation. The narrative broadens to cover the events of the mutiny itself, Bligh's extraordinary 3000 mile voyage in a long-boat, Fletcher Christian's fate, the capture of the mutineers, their harsh voyage back to England and eventual fate. The book gives an immediate and vivid portrait of London and Plymouth during this period (1789-1793), when the popular press was in its infancy, revolution was in the air and poets gave words to national feeling.