This book is a collection of early documents relating to Fletcher Christian's mutiny against William Bligh in 1789 on the HMS Bounty. The editor claims to have gathered together for the first time "the relevant texts and documents" related to this famous event that has intrigued readers for 200 years. In all, ten documents whose publication dates range from 1790 to 1870 are included. The first four documents make up the body of the book and consist of a series of published statements by William Blight and responses by Edward Christian, Fletcher's brother. Fletcher Christian died on Pitcairn Island and never put his story in print. These four sections are followed by six Appendixes. The first Appendix contains a transcript of Bligh's orders and a botanical description of the breadfruit that the Bounty went to Tahiti to obtain. The remaining five Appendixes are narratives of the lives of those who stayed on the Bounty after the mutiny.

All of these early texts are preceded by a delightful and informative Introduction by the editor that relates the early lives of both Bligh and Christian and discusses their relationship leading up to the mutiny. It describes the mission of the Pandora to seek out the Bounty and bring back any mutineers they can find. Also covered is the trial and disposition of those sailors brought back from Tahiti. Lastly, the Introduction goes on to summarize the history of Bounty documentation and scholarship, from Bligh's first published account right on through the famous fictionalized Bounty trilogy by Nordhoff and Hall. The Introduction is followed by a one page listing of suggested further readings.

The first section of the book is Bligh's 1790 account of the mutiny and subsequent voyage of he and 18 crew members in the ship's 23 foot boat. He quickly recounts the details of the mutiny on the first four pages and then spends the remaining 62 pages on his heroic and epic voyage across 3,600 miles of the South Pacific that took about a month and a half. Bligh depicts himself as a dedicated leader who saved the lives of all but one crew member in this fascinating and arduous journey.

The second section of the book is the proceedings of the court martial of those brought back to face charges of mutiny, published in 1794 by Edward Christian in an attempt to exonerate his brother. This text consists of a written statement by Bligh, a series of interrogations of the Bounty crew regarding the events of the mutiny, and an Appendix by Edward. A picture of Bligh as a tyrant emerges from this testimony. It is 86 pages long and somewhat repetitive, but still an interesting document to read. The 20 page Appendix at the end of is Edward Christian's attempt to show that his brother had cause for his actions. Although he does not try to justify his brother's actions, he tries to show the state of desperation that his brother was driven to by Bligh's actions. Bligh was at sea when this was published and, when he returned home, he published in 1795 "An Answer..." to the statements of the Appendix which is included as the third section of this book. To this Edward Christian wrote and published a "Short Reply..." that is the fourth section of this book. This interchange in writing between Bligh and Edward Christian is wonderful to read because it presents both sides of the story in a very balanced and fair manner. Without having Fletcher Christian to defend his own actions, this set of documents is the next best thing we have to a fair presentation of both sides of the case.

The above documents alone would have made a wonderful and enlightening book. The editor goes on to present in the Appendixes documents that tell the story of those men who followed Fletcher Christian to Tahiti or Pitcairn Island. The first Appendix is a copy of Bligh's orders to go to Tahiti and a description of the breadfruit he was to bring to Jamaica. The second Appendix is an 1870 retelling of a journal kept by one of the sailors who was taken by the Pandora from Tahiti as a mutineer. It tells of the harsh treatment these 14 received aboard this ship and how four died when the ship sank. The next two Appendixes are accounts written by crew members of a ship that visited Pitcairn Island 19 years after the mutiny in 1808. They tell the story of the crew that landed there with Fletcher Christian and their history and families. By this time only one of the nine members of the original Bounty crew that landed on the island remained alive. The last two Appendixes are the story of one of the Tahitian women who married a Bounty crew member and the story of the last surviving crew member himself.

Altogether these various documents pieced together tell what we can know of the Bounty mutiny. They make fascinating reading, more interesting than the fictional accounts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in tales of the sea.

What an amazing book. Using the original source materials--Bligh's diary, the transcript of the Bounty Court Martial, Fletcher Christian's brother's defense of the mutineers, and other materials--the Editor R.D. Madison has put together a book which is impossible to put down. Indeed, the book leaves the reader wishing it were twice as long. Madison refuses to take sides in the Bligh v. Christian debate, and lets the record speak for itself. Since the record is contradictory and nobody is unbiased, the effect, in cinematic terms, is more like "Roshomon" than either of the two Bounty movies. William Bligh comes across as an incredibly brave man with an indomitable will--yet he has a tendency to whine, and worse, he stoops to securing affidavits which do not even pass the smell test. Fletcher Christian comes across as a 23-year old hothead who lets the men talk him into leading a mutiny--and can't control the situation after the mutiny. Christian petulantly refuses to have dinner with the Captain on the eve of the mutiny. Clark Gable, he clearly ain't. The moral world of the Bounty is painted entirely in shades of gray; the men of the Bounty are imperfect and all too human.

Not only is the reader treated to a great detective story, but it is a story with an absorbing and instructive sequel. The book ends with a contemporary account, first published in the 1830's, of the subsequent history of Pitcairn's Island as told by the last survivor of the Bounty, "John Adams" (an alias). Adams described a harrowing descent into mayhem and murder by the mutineers who made it to Pitcairn's Island along with their native friends. The disputes began with a dispute over--you guessed it--who would possess a native woman. Except for Adams, Fletcher Christian his gang were all killed, along with the native men. In the end, John Adams sets up a harmonious society based on Biblical principles.

I have been scratching my head for two whole weeks since finishing this book, pondering its meaning. And that is a high recommendation, indeed.

The Busines of May Next is easily the best book I have ever read on James Madison's intellectual journey from his dismay over the ineffectiveness of the Articles of Confederation to his draft of the Virginia Plan, which was the underlying foundation of our Constitution.

The title is taken from a letter Madison wrote in which he discussed the "business" of the upcoming Constitutional Convention (in May of 1789), of which Madison--along with Alexander Hamiltion--was the prime mover.

Miller's book expertly and eloquently explores the influences on Madison's thinking, from his reading of David Hume's essays on the ideal conditions for a republic, to his correspondence with Washington, Jefferson and many others in which he fleshed out his ideas of how to turn the weak, ineffectual Articles into a government that had both power and staying power.

As Miller points out, Madison's genius was his understanding of human behavior, and his awareness that any government must be shaped in ways that take advantage of the "better angels of our nature," but also (more important) minimize, or at least accommodate, the darker side of our nature.

By fashioning a government with limited and shared powers; by holding frequent elections in which the leaders are held accountable; by ensuring that the people possess certain rights that no government can threaten (on pain of being altered or abolished), Madison was the first among equals in the creation of a truly representative government that has lasted more than 200 years and shows no signs of dying out.

Miller himself is one of the few (William Manchester is another) historians whose thorough research is matched by his delightful writing style. I have two copies of the book--a hardcopy for reading and a paperback for underlining.

This is a very good discussion of Madison's role in the development of the Consitution. Very readabl

This is, without a doubt, the best treatment of race relations during the Civil Rights era by any author, black or white. One factor of this novel that I found particularly intriguing was the contrast between the civilized, semi-aristocratic family portrayed in the book and the "white trash" and transplanted northerners in their midst. Overall, an underrated classic.

With his customary skill and craft, Jones weaves a powerful and unforgettable story of racial tension in the New South.

A young black man is brutally murdered in a small Tennessee town. The novel's protagonist, Hester Glenn, slowly comes to realize that her younger son, whom she regards as a paragon of Southern male virtue, may be involved in the killing. Amidst the growing evidence of his guilt, Hester fights to clear his name and that of her family and community.

One reviewer of A CRY OF ABSENCE has likened the novel to a Greek tragedy. Hester is a tragic figure, blinded by pride, and like all tragic figures, she must accept a tragic fate for her actions. Although a conservative Southerner himself, Jones takes no sides. He's as critical of Hester as he is the busy body liberals who set themselves up in the town as the guardians of virtue.

This is a masterful novel,a literary work that moves with the pulse of a thriller, one that has been sorely overlooked since its initial publication in the early 70's. It is long overdue its share of acclaim.

James Madison: Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume Two is the continuation of volume one as seen, recorded and reproted by James Madison as a delegate from the State of Virginia.

This volume continues on from July 7, 1787 through the conclusion on September 17, 1787 and is most remarkable. We see the delegates really working on the nuts and bolts of the Constitution of the United States. Debate is found on all points as resolution after resolution is hotly contested, debated and voted on with later inclusion into the final document. There is even an appendix to the debates which includes letters. plans and outlines from some of the most prominated people of that time.

There is a draft from Hamilton and a proposed compromise from Randolph, along with Madison's own notes and remarks. Giving the reader a real sense of prerequisite presence and respect for the contingencies that befell our Founding Fathers in creating the constitution. Remember all that they had to go on was failed superstructures of past governments as there was nothing else in the way of govenment that could compare to what the people at this convention ultimately came up with.

On to part three contained in this volume. Contained here is the constitution, its ratification and amendments. Also, there is and index to the debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 which will help in locating specific debates. All in all, this and the first volume are most informative. Those wanting to read about the process of forming the constitution should read these volumes and they will come away with a greater appreciation and admiration for the work involved.

These volumes are most unique as they are the most complete record available as to what really happened and offers fellow citizens of every generation a narrative so unique as to render it a major treasure of the Republic.

James Madison: Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume One as reported by James Madison, who was a delegate from the State of Virginia, covers the constitutional debate from its start in May 1787 where the main body of the House of Delegates was to meet on the fourteenth, but as usual the delegates were convened on May 25, 1787, to the adjournmnt on July 6, 1787.

This volume is very interesting as it is the way things were preceived by Madison. Madison was not the only delegate to take notes of this convention, but his notes are the most complete by far. Reading these notes gives the reader a sense of being there and participating... albeit distant and by proxy, nevertheless you still get the feeling that you are there.

As Madison gives the reader, in his notes, who was at each debate and discussion, and what was being discussed and debated. Not only that, but this first volume has been divided into two parts. Part One has the Antecedents of the Federal Convention of 1787... in it are the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the List of Delegates Appointed by States Represented in the Federal Convention.

Part Two is the Federal Convention of 1787 itself conclusive till the adjournment. Madison's Preface... a sketch never finished nor applied; and the debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 which framed the Constitution of the United States of America.

Interestingly enough, in Madison's preface we see Madison's library of thought taking hold and his sense of history, as he writes of the necessity of political confederacies, Meeting of colonial deputies at Albany in 1754, Congress in 1774, of 1775, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Franklin's plan, and the difficulties in the way of a confederation. Reading this first volume, puts things in perspective as to the magnitude and gravity of the time, and most importantly why there was a need for a constitution.

For all those interested in the Constitution of the United States, reading this nuts and bolts debate will give all a better appreciation for the people who found it necessary to give posterity a workable fair government.

DISCLOSURE: My father wrote this book. It won't be surprising that I give it five stars, but the work honestly merits it regardless of the reviewer,...

This is an excellent introduction to or review of the Federalist. The book is short and easily approachable, but its ideas powerful. The work is handsomely bound in dark blue leather.

A very pleasant surprise, indeed! I am a normal, working class citizen and was given this book as a gift. My initial reaction was, "I will get to this when I can", but after turning the first 9 pages, I could not put it down!

Dr. Saxey's goal is the same as the original authors; his intent is to assist every voter in reading and understanding the Constitution, and he accomplishes that goal in style!

Saxey guides the reader through the Federalist papers step by step; first quoting the authors of the Federalist - James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. Following each topic, he adds a short commentary of each section and then describes how past and present administrations have abided by or abused the Constition and the ramifications of doing so.

Dr. Saxey takes us on a journey of our political history and points out "red flags", misuse of government power and where our future as a Nation lies accordng to how the Constituiton has been interpreted in our time and ramifications if changes are not made. He points out the net effect of excessive legislation which has become epidemic, illustrates how the limitations of terms has been misunderstood as well as the effect of entrenched power based on a seniority system in the House of Representatives.

One of my favorite sections, on page 55 is regarding the character of those representing the people/states. Saxey states " Character matters. It matters not only in candidates for public office, but in the CITIZENS who vote for them" (emphasis added). Roderick Saxey quotes Alexis de Tocqueville who spoke of the greatness of America, and who said "America is great because she is good and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great"! How appropriate for these times. The delightful surprise here, is that the Author's personality shines through what could be for some, difficult reading. His humor and humility are evident and enjoyable enough that you wish you could sit at a fireside chat and probe his intellect and insight further. For passionate American's this is a must read. I recommend it for any US History course and for any person seeking citizenship into our Nation! If a second edition comes forth, I'd like to hear more from Dr. Saxey himself, as his discourse is insighful, logical, sensible.

As history teaches us, we must look where we are headed as a nation and to do that, we must re-evaluate what our Founding Fathers intended for America and her people. "The Federalist", by Dr. Roderick Saxey accomplishes this and stands apart from other Federalist publications. I recommend that you find it, read it and keep it on your desk! An excellent source of stimulating conversation!

It is this reviewer's opinion that Percival Everett's God's Country is nothing short of a mini-masterpiece. Set in 1871 and narrated by a very unlucky cowpoke, Curt Marder, the book shows the good, bad, and ugly aspects of life in God's Country (the proverbial Wild West).

The story opens with marauders burning Curt's ranch, kidnapping his wife, Sadie, and committing the ultimate indiscretion of shooting his beloved dog. Curt, a spineless coward and ardent racist, does nothing to stop them and watches from a distance as his home is destroyed. He hires Bubba, the best tracker in the area (who happens to be African American), to lead him to the culprits (and subsequently Sadie) in exchange for half the ranch. It is in the journey to save Sadie that Curt constantly witnesses and benefits from Bubba's selfless acts of benevolence and humanity, but is blinded by racism, stupidity, and ignorance to realize the errors of his ways. Instead, he consistently lies, steals, and cheats, largely driven by greed and his own self-interests.

Mr. Everett is an excellent writer having pulled off such a spoofy odyssey. Through his words, the reader experiences the sights, sounds, and smells of hard living in hard times. It is a relatively short novel that is richly saturated with dark humor and unforgettable, wonderfully imagined characters with names like Wide Clyde McBride, Pickle Cheeseboro, and Taharry whose speech impediment causes him to preface every word with "ta," thus earning him his unusual name. The book even includes a "cameo" appearance of "Injun killin'" George Cluster and bank robbers reminiscent of the James/Younger Gang.

This book touched on so many issues (the "isms") on a number of levels. Through the misadventures of Curt and Bubba, the author covers the institutionalized racism and social injustices that Native, Asian, and African Americans endured. There are painful scenes of an Indian tribe massacre and a lynching of an innocent black boy. The sexism exhibited against women in the West was evidenced in the Jake and Loretta storylines, and the emerging socio-economic strata (classism) between western landowners was touched upon as well. However, for me, the most powerful messages were saved in the last few pages of the novel's surprise ending. Without revealing too much, I thought it was clever in the way that the author paralleled Bubba's "dream" to live freely without fear or judgment to MLK's desire to be judged by the content of one's character and not by skin color. Curt comments that Bubba's dream did not sound like much of a dream summed up the underlying arrogance and indifference toward his fellow man that resonated throughout the story.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I have not been disappointed yet. I am looking forward to picking up his other works as time permits.

Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub, The Nubian Circle Book Club
July 19, 2003

MR. EVERETT DID A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING A DIFFERENT SIDE TO THE OLD WEST IN THIS TRULY HILARIOUS TALE OF TWO TOTALLY OPPOSITE MEN. CURT, A SIMPLE MAN WITH LITTLE COMMON SENSE AND BUBBA, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN TRACKER, TRAVELING TOGETHER IN SEARCH OF CURT'S WIFE AFTER SHE WAS ABDUCTED BY A TRAVELING GROUP OF THEIVES. THE MISADVENTURES ARE SURE TO LEAVE YOU TICKLED. MY FAVORITE SCENE IS WHEN CURT IS BURIED STANDING UP TO HIS NECK IN THE GROUND WITH HIS HORSE ALSO BURIED THE SAME WAY NEXT TO HIM IN THE DESERT OF THE WEST. IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE YOU'LL FORGET THESE CHARACTERS. HAPPY READING

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States and is known as the Father of the Constitution. This juvenile biography by Jean Fritz is a concerted effort to provide young readers with an appreciation of "The Great Little Madison" as an indispensable force in the early history of the Republic. By focusing on Madison's personal liabilities of a weak speaking voice, an introverted personality, and the fact he was "no bigger than half a piece of soap," Fritz magnifies his accomplishments in influencing the future of the United States. In Fritz's story Madison's commitment to the "oneness" of America become a defining element that is epitomized in his hard work getting the Constitution written, signed and adopted, and then devoting the rest of his life to making it work.

Fritz pays as much attention to Madison's personal relationships as she does his political achievements. This includes not only his celebrated romance with Dolley Payne Todd and his friendship with Thomas Jefferson, but also his political clashes with Patrick Henry; while an ardent advocate of independence, Henry was probably the most articulate opponent of a Federal government. This 1989 biography is illustrated with prints and engravings, from a drawing of the "universe" Madison drew when he was 11 to notes he took at the Constitutional Convention, and photographs of a chair Jefferson made for his friend and his tombstone, in the shape of an obelisk, which simply read "MADISON" because no other name was needed.

Fritz's biography of Madison is the most reader friendly of the half-dozen similar volumes that are readily available, mainly because of the book's readability. Fritz makes this a narrative than what most young readers would expect from a biography, while still managing to make her case for the importance of what Madison did to create the three branches of government we all learn about as students. I fully anticipate that James Madison will be the next Founding Father to be celebrated by American historians (along with his wife, the beloved grand dame of Washington society both during and after their time in the White House), and "The Great Little Madison" helps to anticipate that eventuality. By tracing the life and contributions of the sickly child with the small voice who grew up to become our fourth President, she also provides a sense of identification her young readers may well appreciate.

This has become our favorite read-aloud no pictures story with my toddler. She gets the benefit of hearing spoken language about a subject she likes, and I get to learn something new every time we read it.

I would reccomend this book for older primary, even lower-level High School students. The story is enlightening, and inspiring for all Americans, young and old.

© Review by: Brutal Dreamer
April 10, 2002

As an avid reader, I have indulged my ravenous feeding upon Shawn P. Madison's work for quite a while now. His genre is absolutely overflowing with his unique vernacular. He creates worlds and characters that are realistic and convincing. In Shawn's novel, Guarder Lore you can see his imagination and his intelligence both caressing the story and the readers attention while grasping a whole new world he constructs.

You get no spoilers from The Brutal Dreamer, but you may be wondering what Guarder Lore is about. This highly explosive novel is based upon an elite militaristic soldiers of the galaxy and the leader of the Guarder Squadron is Frank "Buzzer" Buzzito. Buzzer has always proven to be the best guarder in all venues of their missions. This military is the most secretive of squadrons that have been sanctioned by the United Earthian Nations (U.E.N.) to fight the Soviets; a hard-core communistic Super Power. These enormously formidable military guarders are appointed by this U.E.N. Judiciary Board to defend their interests at all costs. There are no tasks too difficult or no odds too great for these warriors. They are greatly feared for their brutal combatant skills by their foes. The Guarders do the dirty work no one dares discuss, and no one dares to think about. And they do it with no conscious, and no remorse, they do it out of duty.

Shawn's creativity flows well in this Scientific saga filled with clever one liners, incredible and believable characters, and enough vivid details that paints a picture for a bookworm to bask in. His Science Fiction scruples are ingenious as he adds a splash of gore and horror to the already powerful scenes he has set up.

An awesomely creative Sci-Fi Horrific story by an extremely talented author.

~Brutal Dreamer Rating:
five out of five Grape Tootsie Pops!

This work is a terrific showcase of the talent of Mr. Madison. Well plotted, well written and paced evenly, I enjoyed this great story from start to finish. Buzzer is a cool character and this is well worth the price. One really gets caught up in the plot and heck, are left wanting more! Fans of sci-fi or fant adventure will eat it up.

When the two authors wrote this book - they had to have me in mind. I just received it last week and it easily paid for itself the first day. Now when a problem occurs, be it big or small, I just reach over for it, look it up in seconds, and "presto" - solved. I equate this work of art to having a "little man" inside telling me the answer.

Excellent get-acquainted source for AOL users. Very "user-friendly"!

As a local history buff, I was pleased to encounter this book at the bookstore. Professor Madison does a nice job outlining Indiana's history in a way that the average arm-chair historian can understand without any difficulty whatsoever. The first section is devoted to the land and the early people who inhabited the land. He does a great job getting the geographical history down in a concise manner. It's easy to ramble about the topic, but Madison does a nice job of being brief, but also impeccable with content. He covers all the bases.
I particulary enjoy the social history, which talks about race-relations and also about people who helped form the State.

Most major events in American History are taken from the Hoosier perspective as well. While reading, you can tell that Madison has a particular love for the State of Indiana. He writes about it in such a way that demonstrates his admiration for the early settlers, but also he looks at them from a realistic point of view. He does not write history from rose-colored glasses, and writes in a honest and refreshing sort of way.

My only complaint would be that there needs to be more pictures. I do have to add that the photos included are obviously carefully selected, as they make silent statements in themselves. For example, the one of Klan members exiting a church in rural Knox, Indiana, or the one of a one-room delapitated school house in northern Clinton Co. He did a great job in selecting appropriate photos... I only wish there were more.

I took Indiana History at Indiana University from Dr. Madison and I loved the class. THE INDIANA WAY complimented the lectures very well. I learned a new thing from each chapter. Did you know that George Rogers Clark was an indian scalper? Did you know that the Confederates crossed the Ohio River during the Civil War? Did you know that in the 1920s the KKK had the governor in their pocket? Did you know that Wendell Willkie and Paul V. McNutt were in the same graduating class at Indiana University? I did not know these things before reading THE INDIANA WAY, and I cannot wait for the second edition to come out.