Batavia's Graveyard

Name: Batavia's Graveyard
Brand: Random House USA Inc
SKU: 9780609807163
Price: 65.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny

By Mike Dash

4.16

( 4,028 ratings, 366 reviews)

Summary

Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash delves into the harrowing true story of a 17th-century Dutch merchant ship, Batavia, which meets disaster when it is wrecked on a coral reef. The survivors, stranded on isolated islands, face madness and betrayal as their charismatic leader orchestrates a violent and tyrannical regime. This gripping history explores themes of power, desperation, and human savagery at sea during the Age of Sail.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$65⁰⁰

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Batavia's Graveyard

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in maritime history and intriguing true crime stories. It delves into the dramatic 1629 shipwreck of a Dutch East India Company vessel and the horrific mutiny that followed, offering a gripping and meticulously researched account of survival, betrayal, and madness on the high seas.

Batavia's Graveyard

"Batavia's Graveyard" is a spellbinding true story of mutiny, shipwreck, mass murder, and rescue in the 17th century East Indies. A Book Sense 76 pick in hardcover and favorite of critics everywhere, this tale to rival "In the Heart of the Sea" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" is now in paperback.

Description

In 1628, the Dutch East India Company loaded the Batavia, the flagship of its fleet, with a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and gems for her maiden voyage to Java. The ship itself was a tangible symbol of the world’s richest and most powerful monopoly.

The company also sent along a new employee to guard its treasure. He was Jeronimus Corneliszoon, a disgraced and bankrupt man with great charisma and dangerously heretical ideas. With the help of a few disgruntled sailors, he hatched a plot to seize the ship and her riches.

The mutiny might have succeeded, but in the dark morning hours of June 3, 1629, the Batavia smashed through a coral reef and ran aground on a small chain of islands near Australia. The captain and skipper escaped the wreck, and in a tiny lifeboat, they set sail for Java—some 1,500 miles north—to summon help. More than 250 frightened survivors waded ashore, thankful to be alive. Unfortunately, Jeronimus and the mutineers had survived too, and the nightmare was only beginning.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash is praised for its meticulous research and gripping narrative of the infamous 1629 shipwreck and subsequent mutiny. Reviewers commend Dash's ability to weave historical facts with dramatic storytelling, creating a vivid and engaging account that brings the tragic events to life while providing insight into the harsh realities of maritime history.