Batavia Audiobook By Peter FitzSimons cover art

Batavia

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Batavia

By: Peter FitzSimons
Narrated by: Richard Aspel
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The story begins in 1629, when the pride of the Dutch East India Company, the Batavia, is on its maiden voyage en route from Amsterdam to the Dutch East Indies, laden down with the greatest treasure to leave Holland. The magnificent ship is already boiling over with a mutinous plot that is just about to break into the open when, just off the coast of Western Australia, it strikes an unseen reef in the middle of the night.

While Commandeur Francisco Pelsaert decides to take the long-boat across 2000 miles of open sea for help, his second-in-command Jeronimus Cornelisz takes over, quickly deciding that 250 people on a small island is unwieldy for the small number of supplies they have. Quietly, he puts forward a plan to 40 odd mutineers how they could save themselves, kill most of the rest and spare only a half-dozen or so women, including his personal fancy, Lucretia Jansz - one of the noted beauties of Holland - to service their sexual needs. A reign of terror begins, countered only by a previously anonymous soldier Wiebbe Hayes, who begins to gather to him those are prepared to do what it takes to survive...

©2011 Peter FitzSimons (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Armed Forces Engineering Expeditions & Discoveries Historical Military Naval Forces Ships & Shipbuilding Transportation World Scary
Incredible Historical Account • Gripping Maritime Adventure • Excellent Narration • Compelling Survival Story
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After being recommended this book by my father-in-law, I was intrigued to hear this stunning tale of disaster. Peter Fitzsimons has crafted a terrific retelling of the ill-fated voyage of the Dutch East India Company's flagship vessel. Eloquently narrated by Aspel, the story seems so fantastic that one cannot deny that truth IS stranger than fiction.

From the telling of the VOC's founding, to the Batavia's journey and subsequent shipwrecking on the Abrolhos Islands, to the murderous tyrannical short-lived island regime of Jeronimus Cornelisz, this tale is both amazing and horrifying.

Every Australian should read of this disaster that took place off the coast of Western Australia. It paints a chilling portrait of just how far power can corrupt those who have naught to fear from the outside world. Murderous executions, sexual slavery, survival and heroism: these are all present in this adventure that many have forgotten or are not even aware of.

Although told in present tense and actual dialogue spoken could be contested, Fitzsimons states this at the beginning of the book. It makes for a vivid story that places the reader there at every chilling moment.

Disaster, Mutiny, Murder, Survival

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What an amazing story. Narrated very well by Richard Aspel.
If you like historical true crime and or maritime history this is the book for you.
A stunning and horrible tale.

Real life Lord Of The Flies circa 1620s

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I got the recommendation from a Australian youtuber, B2B Castaways (Strick and Fran) and Back 2 Basics Adventures, Jack Strickland. Great read, listen. It tells the story of East India company ship wreck and how the survivors on board broke down to barbarism. To much to review. It's really a good listen.

Australia!

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Great book! The extreme violence was almost too much to listen at times. I do appreciate the frankness and candor, as well as the historical accuracy.

This story hooked me

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Super recommend. If this kind of tale is your thing then pull the trigger. You won't regret it.

Great listen

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I have listened to a lot of 17th century mishaps on the open seas. Including the tales of the whaler in the pacific and the bounty. They all talk of what humans can do for survival or to each other. Both darkness and light of humanity. I would include this one to your bucket list.

Good listen

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the thorough research allowed great character development and understanding of the fallen human nature. encourages one to maintain the rule of law and to stop evil at the earliest onset

great research and great writing made this a very

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Unbelievably amazing story, well researched, well told. Congratulations to Peter Fitzsimons for bringing it to life. Binge listened to it!

So good I had to binge listen

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What a well done telling and performance of this true tale. I admit, the violence and evil were at times difficult to hear, but all in all, the research and writing were incredibly well done. The reader was among one of the best I've heard yet.

Grisly story!

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Amsterdam history at sea and Jakarta’s early European conquest as well as Australia accidental discovery has many more stories to uncover!

Shipwreck

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