Captain's dinner : a shipwreck, an act of cannibalism, and a murder trial that changed legal history / Adam Cohen.
"On May 19, 1884, the yacht Mignonette set sail from England on what should have been an uneventful voyage. When their vessel sank in the Atlantic, Captain Thomas Dudley and his crew found themselves adrift in a tiny lifeboat. As days turned to weeks, they faced an unthinkable choice: starve to death or resort to cannibalism. Their decision to sacrifice the youngest, 17-year-old cabin boy Richard Parker, ignited a firestorm of controversy upon their rescue. Instead of being hailed as heroes and survivors, Dudley and his crew found themselves at the center of Regina v. Dudley and Stephens, a landmark murder trial that would establish the legal precedent that necessity cannot justify murder, a principle that continues to shape Anglo-American law today"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9798893310597
- Physical Description: xviii, 357 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 25 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Authors Equity, [2025]
- Copyright: ©2025
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (page 253-334) and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- The voyage begins -- The wreck of the Mignonette -- The Captain's proposal -- The cannibalism taboo -- A difficult homecoming -- A bad time to be a cannibal -- From sailors to criminal defendants -- The grand jury weighs in -- A special verdict -- The Lord Chief Justice rules -- Fading away.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Dudley, Tom, 1853-1900 > Trials, litigation, etc.
Stephens, E. (Edwin) > Trials, litigation, etc.
Mignonette (Boat) > History.
Trials (Murder) > England > London.
Murder > Law and legislation > Great Britain > History > 19th century.
Necessity (Law) > Great Britain > History > 19th century.
Shipwrecks.
Cannibalism.
Survival.
Murder.
Trials (Murder) - Genre:
- Informational works.
True crime stories.
Available copies
- 26 of 28 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 28 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Main Library | 364.1523 COH (Text) | 36015000755807 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
