The shipwreck cannibals : Captain John Deane and the Boon Island flesh eating scandal

**A long forgotten tale gets a new life as this book reveals the true story of the 18th-century shipwreck cannibalism scandal** During the fierce winter of 1710, 14 Englishmen had taken refuge on Boon Island, a sparse 100-yard long stretch of rock, without food or adequate shelter, uncertain of when or if they would be rescued. They endured for 24 days. An attempt to escape failed and four men died. Facing starvation, their captain, John Dean, gave the order to butcher and eat a member of the crew. Dean's decision fended off starvation and sustained his crew until rescue. John Dean first emerged an unlikely hero, but soon thereafter an alternative version of events began to circulate. The First Mate painted Dean as a murderous fraudster, tyrant, and an enthusiastic consumer of human flesh. Centering on the scandal that defined him, this book tells the forgotten story of John Dean; criminal, mercenary, gentleman, diplomat, and cannibal. In August 1710, the Nottingham Galley set sail for New England. It did not reach its destination, as fierce weather struck and the fourteen men on board were shipwrecked on Boon Island, a sparse 100yd stretch of rock. Without food or adequate shelter, they were uncertain when or if they would be rescued. Two men died of exposure; two more perished in a failed attempt to reach shore. As the situation became more perilous, Captain John Deane gave the order to butcher and eat a deceased member of the crew. This bold decision fended off starvation and sustained the crew until their rescue. John Deane emerged an unlikely hero. But shortly afterwards an alternative version of events began to circulate. The first mate, Christopher Langman, painted Deane as a violent fraudster, a tyrant and an enthusiastic consumer of human flesh. The scandal forced Deane to flee his homeland and begin a life of misadventure that saw him fight as a mercenary for Peter the Great and spy for Robert Walpole. The Shipwreck Cannibals tells the story of a scandalous and grotesque forgotten episode in British maritime history and its bizarre aftermath. "In August 1710, the Nottingham Galley set sail for New England. It did not reach its destination, as fierce weather struck and the fourteen men on board were shipwrecked on Boon Island, a sparse 100 yd stretch of rock. Without food or adequate shelter, they were uncertian when or if they would be rescued. Two men died of exposure; two more perished in a failed attempt to reach shore. As the situation became more perilous, Captain John Deane gave the order to butcher and eat a deceased member of the crew. This bold decision fended off starvation and sustained the crew until their rescue. John Deane emerged an unlikely hero. But shortly afterwards an alternative version of events began to circulate. The first mate, Christopher Langman, painted Deane as a violent fraudster, a tyrant and an enthusiastic consumer of human flesh. The scandal forced Deane to flee his homeland and begin a life of misadventure that saw him fight as a mercenary for Peter the Great and spy for Robert Walpole. ..."--Back cover In the fierce winter of 1710, in a North American port, a boat ferried ten shipwreck survivors to the safety of shore. Fourteen Englishmen had taken refuge on Boon Island, a sparse 100-yard long stretch of rock, without food or adequate shelter, uncertain of when or if they would be rescued. They endured for 24 days. An escape attempt failed and four men died. Facing starvation, their captain, John Deare, gave the order to butcher and eat a member of the crew. Deane's decision fended off starvation and sustained his crew until rescue. John Deane emerged as unlikely hero. But an alternative version of events began to circulate. The First Mate painted Deane as a murderous fraudster, tyrant and an enthusaistic consumer of human flesh. Centering on the scandal that defined him, The Shipwreck Cannibals tells the forgotten story of John Deane; criminal, mercenary, gentleman, diplomat and cannibal.