SOLVED. Mutiny on British Navy ship in late 18th-century South Seas [s]

[Werner]

This is NOT Mutiny on the Bounty (which I've also read), nor part of the Bounty trilogy; but it has a similar premise. The crew of the H.M.S. Blossom, led by first officer Lt. Mason, mutiny against sadistic Capt. Burt, take over the ship, pick up some natives (mostly female) and go off to colonize an uninhabited island --but things don't go smoothly. Lt. Adam Purcell is the main, viewpoint character, and his love interest is the young Polynesian woman Ivoa.

I've only read what was (I believe) a condensed version of this, definitely published by Reader's Digest; but I'm not sure if it was in one of their regular Reader's Digest Condensed Books volumes or not. I read it in the early 70s, so it can't have been published later than that. It may have been published well earlier, since I don't recall the date on the book I read it from.

[Rachel]

I'm guessing it's not by Patrick O'Brien? He did the Master and Commander series

[Werner]

No, Rachel, it's not part of that series. (Different characters and situation.) But thanks for the guess!

[Sue]

Like you, I read this in Reader's Digest. I think it was just called 'The Island', but there's a lot of books with that title!

[Werner]

Sue, at least that gives me something to go on; thanks! I'll follow that lead up, and post here if it gets me anywhere.

[Kris]

The Mutineer: A Romance of Pitcairn Island by Louis Becke?

Perhaps it's a short story in this collection - True Tales of the South Seas by A. Grove Day?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Sounds like The Island by Robert Merle. There are no English translations on GR:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Here are some Worldcat records for the English language edition, plus the Reader's Digest version:

http://www.worldcat.org/title/island/...
http://www.worldcat.org/title/island-...
http://www.worldcat.org/title/readers...

[Werner]

Thanks, Lobstergirl! That's the one; using the author and title you supplied, I was able to do a Google search, and I found an online review from Kirkus Reviews that confirmed it. This group rocks! I'll be adding the title to my shelves; and I'll use the links you supplied to add the English edition to the Goodreads database, and to our group bookshelf.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

You're welcome.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

It was Sue who found the title, of course!

[Werner]

Yes, she did indeed; so Sue, a big thanks to you as well!

[Sue]

I'll have to see if I can read it again-Reader's Digest always cut out the good bits!

[Werner]

Well, Sue, now you'll know what book to look for the re-read! :-)