Product Description

Dudley Pope meticulously researches the story of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy - the butchering of the officers aboard His Majesty's Frigate HERMIONE 32 guns, 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 dreamt 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. A number managed to escape justice. The author describes these events which end 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #288368 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Customer Reviews

The Black Ship Dudley Pope
I rate this one of the best researched books that I have ever read - it is compelling reading and the detail (all taken from acknowledged sources) makes the terrible events of the mutiny and the aftermath totally come alive - one has to keep reminding oneself that this is fact and not fiction. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the Napoleonic era.The Black Ship

The Black Ship by Dudley Pope
The story of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy. The captain of The Hermione - Hugh Pigot - was a brutal,cruel man who flogged his men mercilessly and without just cause and drove them to mutiny. However, the crew's retribution of his treatment by slaughtering the captain and innocent officers went beyond reason.

A good story but spoilt by over indulgence of detail.

Excellent read!!
If you have an interest in naval history, or just want an exciting resd based on factual evidence I recommend the Black Ship