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The Black Ship Kindle Edition

by Dudley Pope (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 105 ratings
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A detailed account of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy, from the author of the Lord Ramage novels.

Dudley Pope meticulously recounts the butchering of the officers aboard His Majesty’s Frigate Hermione in the West Indies in 1797. The captain of the frigate, Hugh Pigot, was a brutal and sadistic commander who flogged his men mercilessly and drove them beyond the limits of endurance. However, nothing could excuse the slaughter of guilty and innocent officers alike as the mutineers went wild and committed crimes beyond anything Pigot could have dreamed up.

Not content with that, they then took the ship into an enemy port and gave her up to the Spanish who, unaware of the true facts for some time, nevertheless greeted them with the contempt they deserved. The Spanish took the ship into their service but, due to an amazing episode of red tape and internal wrangling, never actually got the frigate to sea. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy relentlessly hunted down the mutineers over the next ten years, and of the 33 either caught or who gave themselves up, 24 were either hanged and hung in chains upon gibbets, or transported for life…

The events culminate with the daring re-capture of the Hermione under the guns of Spanish forts, with Captain Edward Hamilton leading 100 English sailors in six open boats in one of the most brilliant cutting-out expeditions in naval history.

“Hiding high drama behind harsh fact, this true tale of horror and adventure at sea will appeal to naval buffs and historians; romantically-minded landlubbers may object to its factual flavor.” —Kirkus Reviews
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  1. Print length
    431 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  5. Publication date
    February 19, 2009
  6. File size
    10330 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is another in Holt's new "Heart of the Oak Sea Classics" line of nautical titles (see Classic Returns, LJ 5/15/98, p. 121). In relating the events of a 1797 mutiny aboard the British frigate Hermione, Pope had done an "excellent job of piecing together all the facts and thus creating a unified, believable tale" (LJ 3/1/64). Though based on factual events, this is a great adventure story and perfect summer reading.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dudley Pope was a greatly distinguished British author of naval history and fiction. He is best known for his novels of the Napoleonic wars that feature the unforgettable characters Nicholas Ramage and Ned York. His books have been translated into twelve languages.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KDJM39Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military (February 19, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 19, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10330 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 431 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 105 ratings

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Dudley Pope

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
105 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

David L. Dunagin
5.0 out of 5 stars Mutiny in the Royal Navy
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable story about a sad event, when British sailors felt they had no choice but to mutiny and kill the Captain of a ship before he killed them. Well researched, full of history. An excellent commentary on the failure of leaders and leadership.
3 people found this helpful
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Stargazer
4.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013
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Very detailed and a bit repetitious but a good read if you like naval and seafaring stories. Gives a good insight into the military mindset of a former age.
One person found this helpful
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anonimaniac
5.0 out of 5 stars More unbelievable than fiction.
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2020
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Unbelievable story! Pigot was everything Bligh wasn't. Brutal tyrants and their syncophants tortured and murdered. Victimized sailors become vicious killers. Hapless innocents at best being helpless bystanders. Self righteous and hypocritical senior officers covering their butts and punishing the innocent.

If ever there was a stunning movie to be made, this is it.
6 people found this helpful
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HLB
5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership Gone Wrong
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2019
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Detailed, methodical look at the disaster of the Hermione. Particularly appreciated that the author gave the background of Captain Pigot's career, as well as exploring the political aftermath of both the Jessup affair and the mutiny itself.
One person found this helpful
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Laura Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2016
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This was a fascinating look into life in the service on a wooden sailing ship. Great reading for those who want to learn more about what life was like for the sailors of this era.
One person found this helpful
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Alvaro Pastor
4.0 out of 5 stars The bloodiest mutiny in the Royal Navy history.
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
Few years after the infamous Bounty another mutiny, more violent, bloody, and now almost forgotten, shook the world. The Black Ship tells us this sea story about brutality, human nature, and adventure in full detail.
One person found this helpful
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J. Blackwell
2.0 out of 5 stars A Long complicated story
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2018
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I wondered if I was pouring over a massive pile of unrelated historical documents; or was I reading a piece of nonfiction detailing the story of The Black Ship. I found myself completely lost in the discombobulated details of so many names, dates, and activities that I must confess to often skipping a few (sometimes many) pages just to find some solid ground. Each time I put the book down I wished that I had never started it - but being addicted to the printed word I would once again journey into the author's scrambled historical reflections. Sorry... Joe Blackwell
6 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars only read a few pages
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020
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found it boring
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Top reviews from other countries

Alex Ogle
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read about a horrid captain and the search for justice
Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2024
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The book is laid out like an episode of Columbo. We are told who the villain is, why he is the villain, and what his crimes were. The picture is built up and then the moment arrives when the crew turns.
At this point, the bloody horror of the mutiny is revealed and the true villains are revealed.
After that, is the extremely interesting story of how justice was meted out and criminals caught back in those days not long after the American War of Independence. The final part describes how the HMS Hermione was recaptured in a truly daring raid.
A first class read that illuminates life on board ship around the time of pirates and treasures.
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G.I.Forbes
5.0 out of 5 stars mutiny
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2012
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This is the story of HMS Hermione whose crew mutinied on 21 Sept 1797 killing the sadistic Captain Pigot and most of his officers.The remaining crew sailed the ship to Spain where it was refitted as the Santa Cecilia but was recaptured in 1799 at Puerto Cabello harbour and was first registered as Retaliation and then Retribution before being broken up in 1805.
33of the mutineers were captured and of these 24 were executed by hanging.
Very well written,researched and easy to read.There are interesting appendices on the effects of flogging,the punishments that were carried out plus a list of the mutineers
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G.I.Forbes
5.0 out of 5 stars mutiny
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2012
This is the story of HMS Hermione whose crew mutinied on 21 Sept 1797 killing the sadistic Captain Pigot and most of his officers.The remaining crew sailed the ship to Spain where it was refitted as the Santa Cecilia but was recaptured in 1799 at Puerto Cabello harbour and was first registered as Retaliation and then Retribution before being broken up in 1805.
33of the mutineers were captured and of these 24 were executed by hanging.
Very well written,researched and easy to read.There are interesting appendices on the effects of flogging,the punishments that were carried out plus a list of the mutineers
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2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars great book great writing style and great content-priced right
Reviewed in Canada on March 28, 2022
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thought this was a great read really enjoyed the writing style and content this would be helpful for all student of this peom would bye more books from this author if they where a little cheaper-- this one was priced right ----the others i have seen are just way too expensive !!!-- for a light read of history
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David Peters
4.0 out of 5 stars read many books by D P and this was factuly
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2015
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read many books by D P and this was factuly fantastic
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Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2018
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Excellent read with amazing level of detail. Research for the book must have taken many hours by the author,his wife and committed others.
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