Paradise in Chains

The Bounty Mutiny and the Founding of Australia

By: Diana Preston

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Celebrated historian Diana Preston presents betrayals, escapes, and survival at sea in her account of the mutiny of the Bounty and the flight of convicts from the Australian penal colony.

The story of the mutiny of the Bounty and William Bligh and his men's survival on the open ocean for 48 days and 3,618 miles has become the stuff of legend. But few realize that Bligh's escape across the seas was not the only open-boat journey in that era of British exploration and colonization. Indeed, nine convicts from the Australian penal colony, led by Mary Bryant, also traveled 3,250 miles across the open ocean and some uncharted seas to land at the same port Bligh had reached only months before.

In this meticulously researched dual narrative of survival, acclaimed historian Diana Preston provides the background and context to explain the thrilling open-boat voyages each party survived and the Pacific Island nations each encountered on their journey to safety. Through this deep dive, listeners come to understand the Pacific Islands as they were and as they were perceived, and how these seemingly utopian lands became a place where mutineers, convicts, and eventually the natives themselves, were chained.

©2017 Diana Preston (P)2017 Recorded Books

A Very Dry "read"

After reading most of the reviews for this book, I really wasn't surprised at how dry of an account of the different voyages it was. Actually, to be very honest, the ONLY reason I bought and listened to the whole thing was that it was narrated by the best reader in the world; Davina Porter. One reviewer of another book once wrote that she could listen to Ms. Porter read the phone book. I had laughed at that and then, this book came along. Yup, pretty much.
Paradise in Chains has a lot of characters who have many similar situations so it seems like a repetitive listen. If you are a Davina Porter lover, you may enjoy this as "background music" as I did. If you are a fan of voyage mishaps and maritime history, this also may be to your liking.

Everything, I love the history of that time.

The in depth of details was very helpful in putting myself there with the sailors.