Reviews for Batavia's Graveyard
Review - Batavia's Graveyard
What the book was about: In 1628, the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia shipwrecked on a reef off the coast of Australia. The captain, Ariaen Jacobsz, the company commander, Francisco Pelsaert and a handful of sailors took off to Java in an open boat, looking for help. The remaining survivors were left on a small coral island now known as Batavia’s Graveyard. The chief company officer left on the island was Jeronimus Corneliszoon, and he soon took control. He gathered a group of men around him and soon began a string of brutal murders.
But before he began his killing, he divided up his opposition, sending a group of women and boys to a nearby island and another group of 20 soldiers to a larger island about five miles away. One of these soldiers, Wiebbe Hayes, organized the group and determined to resist Jeronimus’s men when the time came. Back on Batavia’s Graveyard, the killing began. With little rhyme or reason, survivors not in on the mutiny were attacked and brutally killed. All the children were soon gone, along with all but the most attractive women who were subjected to repeated rape. Only a few artisans were allowed to remain alive. When everyone had been killed except for Hayes and his soldiers, now increased to about 40 by escapees from the other islands, Jeronimus turned his attention to them. Hayes resisted, so the mutineers decided to try diplomacy. Jeronimus and a few of his most violent followers landed on the island, only to be immediately captured. All were killed except Jeronimus himself who was thrown into a pit.
Meanwhile, the ship’s boat had arrived in Java. Jacobsz’s intention to take over the ship with Jeronimus (foiled by the shipwreck) was uncovered and he was thrown into prison. Pelsaert returned to Batavia’s Graveyard on a small ship, managed to fend off an attack by the remaining mutineers, and set about trying and executing the murderers. Hayes was promoted, a few mutineers were brought back to Java for trial and execution, and two men were exiled on the desolate coast of Australia. The wreck was discovered in 1963. Parts of it were brought up and reconstructed in a museum.
What I liked about the book: Well-written and fascinating, if gruesome. In addition to the account of the shipwreck and mutiny, Dash gives details of life in Holland in the 17th century and on shipboard which prove that the past is a different planet.
What I didn’t like about the book: The Dutch names were hard to follow, but that wasn’t the author’s fault. The final 30 pages, many of which were filled with the impossible-to-confirm histories of participants after the voyage, dragged a bit.
The most interesting quote: Dutch infants of all classes were generally breast-fed by their mothers; it was universally agreed to be the best way to safeguard an infant’s health., and wet nurses were seldom employed in the United Provinces unless the mother was physically incapable of producing milk. Belijtgen had no such difficulty; for a month or more before the birth, as was common at the time, her husband had paid an old woman named Maijcke van den broecke to suckle his wife’s breasts in order to stimulate the flow of milk.
Recommendation: I gave it an 8, but it certainly isn’t for the faint-of-heart.
But before he began his killing, he divided up his opposition, sending a group of women and boys to a nearby island and another group of 20 soldiers to a larger island about five miles away. One of these soldiers, Wiebbe Hayes, organized the group and determined to resist Jeronimus’s men when the time came. Back on Batavia’s Graveyard, the killing began. With little rhyme or reason, survivors not in on the mutiny were attacked and brutally killed. All the children were soon gone, along with all but the most attractive women who were subjected to repeated rape. Only a few artisans were allowed to remain alive. When everyone had been killed except for Hayes and his soldiers, now increased to about 40 by escapees from the other islands, Jeronimus turned his attention to them. Hayes resisted, so the mutineers decided to try diplomacy. Jeronimus and a few of his most violent followers landed on the island, only to be immediately captured. All were killed except Jeronimus himself who was thrown into a pit.
Meanwhile, the ship’s boat had arrived in Java. Jacobsz’s intention to take over the ship with Jeronimus (foiled by the shipwreck) was uncovered and he was thrown into prison. Pelsaert returned to Batavia’s Graveyard on a small ship, managed to fend off an attack by the remaining mutineers, and set about trying and executing the murderers. Hayes was promoted, a few mutineers were brought back to Java for trial and execution, and two men were exiled on the desolate coast of Australia. The wreck was discovered in 1963. Parts of it were brought up and reconstructed in a museum.
What I liked about the book: Well-written and fascinating, if gruesome. In addition to the account of the shipwreck and mutiny, Dash gives details of life in Holland in the 17th century and on shipboard which prove that the past is a different planet.
What I didn’t like about the book: The Dutch names were hard to follow, but that wasn’t the author’s fault. The final 30 pages, many of which were filled with the impossible-to-confirm histories of participants after the voyage, dragged a bit.
The most interesting quote: Dutch infants of all classes were generally breast-fed by their mothers; it was universally agreed to be the best way to safeguard an infant’s health., and wet nurses were seldom employed in the United Provinces unless the mother was physically incapable of producing milk. Belijtgen had no such difficulty; for a month or more before the birth, as was common at the time, her husband had paid an old woman named Maijcke van den broecke to suckle his wife’s breasts in order to stimulate the flow of milk.
Recommendation: I gave it an 8, but it certainly isn’t for the faint-of-heart.
Reviewed by Roger on 2006-08-06 19:03:21