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  • The Far Land

  • 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific
  • Written by: Brandon Presser
  • Narrated by: Steve Quinn
  • Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)

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The Far Land

Written by: Brandon Presser
Narrated by: Steve Quinn
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Publisher's Summary

A thrilling true tale of power, obsession, and betrayal at the edge of the world.

In 1808, an American merchant ship happened upon an uncharted island in the South Pacific and unwittingly solved the biggest nautical mystery of the era: the whereabouts of a band of fugitives who, after seizing their vessel, had disappeared into the night with their Tahitian companions.

Pitcairn Island was the perfect hideaway from British authorities, but after nearly two decades of isolation, its secret society had devolved into a tribalistic hellscape; a real-life Lord of the Flies, rife with depravity and deception.

Seven generations later, the island’s diabolical past still looms over its 48 residents; descendants of the original mutineers, marooned like modern castaways. Only a rusty cargo ship connects Pitcairn with the rest of the world, just four times a year.

In 2018, Brandon Presser rode the freighter to live among its present-day families; two clans bound by circumstance and secrets. While on the island, he pieced together Pitcairn’s full story: an operatic saga that holds all who have visited in its mortal clutch - even the author.

Told through vivid historical and personal narrative, The Far Land goes beyond the infamous mutiny on the Bounty, offering an unprecedented glimpse at life on the fringes of civilization, and how, perhaps, it’s not so different from our own.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Brandon Presser (P)2022 PublicAffairs
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What the critics say

The Far Land swells in the cause and effect of actions of passion. Brandon Presser's fascinating narrative of the relentless consequences of the Bounty mutineers asks: were they brave or damned? They lived so very troubled ever after. You can’t make this stuff up!” (Tom Hanks)

"Meticulously researched…. Armchair adventurers will appreciate the author’s sharp and sympathetic eye, showing us the mechanics of a truly remote civilization. Presser’s detailed account provides a sense of authority to a story too bizarre to be anything but true.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“A highly accomplished travel writer, Brandon Presser's The Far Land hits a lot of my pleasure centers: remote islands, then-and-now non-fiction, historical mysteries and forthright travelogues. The first night I started reading, I dreamed about Pitcairn Island.” (Maggie Shipstead, New York Times best-selling author of Great Circle)

What listeners say about The Far Land

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great retrospective, context and first person experience

Listened to this book after listening to Bligh’s account of the mutiny (part of an effort to learn what really happened vs what Hollywood did to the story). I like Presser’s account because it is recent (he summarizes the latest accounts; the epilogue of his sources is worth listening to), he focuses on facts vs lore (as much as is possible), plus he travelled to and stayed on Pitcairn Island (and other related destinations). A very interesting listen!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining.

I quite enjoyed Brandon’s take & storytelling of this unique history. Be prepared to supplementarily google often!

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