December 23, 1787, Portsmouth.
A 14-year-old boy, John Jacob Turnstile, has got into trouble with the police on one too many occasions & is on his way to prison when an offer is put to him
- a ship has been refitted over the last few months & is about to set sail with an important mission. The boy who was expected to serve as the captain's personal valet has been injured & a replacement must be found immediately. The deal is struck & he finds himself onboard, meeting the captain, just as the ship sets sail.
The ship is HMS Bounty, the captain is William Bligh, & their destination is Tahiti.
Mutiny on the Bounty is the first novel to explore all the events relating to the Bounty