Harrison Christian

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Harrison Christian (born 14 December 1990) is a New Zealand journalist and author of nonfiction books. His books include Men Without Country (2021), Should We Fall to Ruin (2022) and Terra Nova (2024). Christian's writings often deal with the South Pacific. He is a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the leader of the Bounty mutiny. [1] [2]

Contents

Writing career

Christian's first book, Men Without Country, tells the story of the 1789 mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty. [3] [4] The book is critical of historians' attempts to portray the Bounty's commander, Lieutenant William Bligh, in a sympathetic light. [5] It was a bestseller in New Zealand. [6]

His second book, Should We Fall to Ruin, takes an Anzac perspective of the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, New Guinea, in 1942. [7] It received praise from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Saturday Paper. [8] [9]

In June 2024, Christian released his third book, Terra Nova, which recounts Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole. [10]

Works

Men Without Country: The true story of exploration and rebellion in the South Seas. Ultimo Press. 2021. ISBN 9781761150258.

Should We Fall to Ruin: The untold true story of a remote garrison and their battle against extraordinary odds. Ultimo Press. 2022. ISBN 9781761150067.

Terra Nova: Ambition, jealousy and simmering rivalry in the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Ultimo Press. 2024. ISBN 9781761152122.

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References

  1. "History: the Bounty mutineers". ABC Radio. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. "Harrison Christian: the infamous mutiny on the Bounty". RNZ. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  3. "The family link behind the new Bounty book". NZ Herald. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  4. "Mutiny, the Bounty and the Fletcher Christian story". ABC Radio National. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  5. Hall, Sarah (31 August 2021). "What's it like to descend from one of history's most famous mutineers?". North & South Magazine. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  6. "Nielsen NZ Weekly Bestsellers for the week ending Saturday 17 July 2021 : Booksellers NZ". www.booksellers.co.nz. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. Johnson, Kurt (13 August 2022). "Should We Fall to Ruin". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  8. Woodhead, Cameron (16 September 2022). "What to read next". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. Johnson, Kurt (13 August 2022). "Should We Fall to Ruin". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  10. White, Mike (2 June 2024). "Ice and vice: New book reveals fresh mystery of famous polar expedition". The Post.