"Mutiny at sea has always been a looming danger, particularly on long, difficult voyages. The rigid hierarchy and deep social divisions between the crew and their commander, the misery and monotony of sea life, the constant threat of death from shipwreck, disease or enemy action could acquire such frightening proportions as to undermine all normal trust between captain and crew." "The most notorious mutiny was on the Bounty in 1789, an event elevated to iconic status by Hollywood, yet described here as a mere "pup" among mutinies. Captain Bligh was neither tyrant nor sadist - but Pigot of the Hermione was, and the crew were probably justified in throwing him overboard. Richard Woodman brings a unique, seaman's perspective to mutinies across the globe - from Magellan's successful handling of mutiny on his great voyage of discovery and circumnavigation in 1520 to the "sordid crimes" that mutinies had become by the end of World War II."--BOOK JACKET.