Black Ship - Softcover

Pope, Dudley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844158934 ISBN 13: 9781844158935

Publisher: Pen and Sword Military, 2009

Synopsis

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 recapture 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.

About this title

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.

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 this edition

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1844158934
• ISBN 13: 9781844158935
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368