Mutiny on the Bounty

By: Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall

Narrated by: Charlton Griffin

In 1789 HMS Bounty under the command of Lieutenant William Bligh sailed off on a voyage to Tahiti in the South Pacific to obtain breadfruit trees for transplanting in the Caribbean. After a long, difficult voyage, in which a passage of Cape Horn had to be abandoned, the ship finally reached its destination. Within a few months, the Bounty was loaded with breadfruit plants and fresh provisions. But the return voyage never materialized.

In this most successful retelling of the famous saga of the Bounty mutiny, Nordhoff and Hall recreate the excitement, peril, fear, and tension that envelope the crew members. Made into films in 1935, 1962, and 1994, it is a story that continues to enthrall new generations. In a realist style, the novel brings the listener into the private world of William Bligh, Fletcher Christian, Roger Byum, and all the other crew members. It is a story you will want to hear more than once.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©1932 Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall (P)2014 Audio Connoisseur

Critic reviews

"This vigorous, artistic narrative remains incontestably the finest account of the Bounty story, and since many others have tried to write of this famous ship and its misadventures, the accomplishment of Nordhoff and Hall was not trivial. A grand book." (James A. Michener)

Excellent story. Masterful Narration

Mutiny on the bounty tells a gripping tale of the Bounty and its crew. At numerous parts throughout the story I was overcome with emotion due to the hardships every crew member faced in the years that followed.
I do wish it’s sequels also had an audiobook for them since this is only 1 of 3 stories from the Event.

Full review

While story in the setting was good. I didn’t like the whole white man’s burden that was mentioned in the story along with the sometimes hidden antisemitism. However it still was a good story

Masterful

Possibly the best audiobook experience I’ve ever had. Not the cheapest version, but worth every penny.

Sound effects

The sound effects were tawdry. They were a distraction to me. With audio processing difficulties, I could have done without.

Well read, true narrative, classic seafaring tale!

Having always loved this story, I eagerly looked forward to listening to it and was not disappointed. The reader captures the essence of the Islanders language which is key to this story.

Superb

An interesting story that is both brilliantly written and artfully read. While I am only half way through, I'm sure it will end much too soon.

SUPERBLY DONE

I’d never before read this, and was immediately captured. Couldn’t wait to get back to it.

Excellent narration of a classic sea adventure!

This is an excellent audio version of Mutiny on the Bounty! I read the book several years ago, and loved it. I needed to reread it so it was fresh in my mind for a book discussion group, and decided to make more efficient use of my time by listening to part of it. That is why I purchased this audible version. Well, I am so glad that I did! I ended up listening to most of the book. The narrator was wonderful, and he made the story come alive.

Rousing adventure story

This was a favorite book from childhood. Hearing it read aloud added a special excitement to visiting again after all these years. It’s still a good story, though I am a much more aware now of the limitations of its euro-centric point of view.

The reading is reasonably good. The narrator chooses to emphasize words like “the” and “a” in a way that I find bizarre. Also, he should be told to look up how to pronounce the word “truculent.”

But he makes sense of the story and the drama, and I enjoyed hearing the book.

A great book and wonderful performance

After a somewhat slow start, this book picks up steam when the book's narrator joins the Bounty crew. Numerous colorful characters and their adventures and tribulations are beautifully described throughout. Inspired by a true story, with heroic and tragic aspects, the reader is swept up in the events carried along by a beautiful narration by Charlton Griffin. Enjoy!