Harrison Christian

{{Short description|New Zealand author (born 1990)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

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.{{Cite web|date=8 July 2021|title=History: the Bounty mutineers|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/overnights/the-bounty-mutiny-from-a-decendants-perspective/13432162|access-date=9 February 2022|website=ABC Radio|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|date=17 July 2021|title=Harrison Christian: the infamous mutiny on the Bounty|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/2018804378/harrison-christian-the-infamous-mutiny-on-the-bounty|access-date=10 February 2022|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}

Writing career

Christian's first book, Men Without Country, tells the story of the 1789 mutiny on the Royal Navy vessel HMS Bounty.{{Cite web |title=The family link behind the new Bounty book |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/the-bounty-bligh-fletcher-christian-and-the-story-that-wont-die/YBHQ5NIQOA2NG6PHHDSB7FBI2I/ |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-01 |title=Mutiny, the Bounty and the Fletcher Christian story |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/fletcher-christian_-harrison-christian/13764084 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=ABC Radio National |language=en}} The book is critical of historians' attempts to portray the Bounty's commander, Lieutenant William Bligh, in a sympathetic light.{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Sarah|date=31 August 2021|title=What's it like to descend from one of history's most famous mutineers?|url=https://northandsouth.co.nz/2021/08/31/bounty-mutiny-harrison-christian-men-without-country/|access-date=9 February 2022|website=North & South Magazine|language=en-US}} It was a bestseller in New Zealand.{{Cite web |title=Nielsen NZ Weekly Bestsellers for the week ending Saturday 17 July 2021 : Booksellers NZ |url=https://www.booksellers.co.nz/Story?Action=View&Story_id=2058 |access-date=10 February 2022 |website=www.booksellers.co.nz}}

His second book, Should We Fall to Ruin, takes an Anzac perspective of the Japanese invasion of Rabaul, New Guinea, in 1942.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Kurt |date=2022-08-13 |title=Should We Fall to Ruin |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/books/2022/08/31/should-we-fall-ruin |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=The Saturday Paper |language=en}} It received praise from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Saturday Paper.{{Cite web |last=Woodhead |first=Cameron |date=September 16, 2022 |title=What to read next |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/back-in-the-wacky-treehouse-and-the-saga-of-russia-what-to-read-next-20220912-p5bhe5.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Kurt |date=2022-08-13 |title=Should We Fall to Ruin |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/books/2022/08/31/should-we-fall-ruin |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=The Saturday Paper |language=en}}

In June 2024, Christian released his third book, Terra Nova, which recounts Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Mike |date=2 June 2024 |title=Ice and vice: New book reveals fresh mystery of famous polar expedition |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350293239/ice-and-vice-new-book-reveals-fresh-mystery-famous-polar-expedition |website=The Post}}

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.

References