Batavia

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Richard Aspel

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

Most Incredible Book I Have Ever Experienced!

Where does Batavia rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Batavia?

Survival!

Have you listened to any of Richard Aspel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

The story is absolutely incredible; and the fact that it was true is far beyond any plot I could have imagined. There are many lessons to be taken from this story from individuals, to leadership, corporations, greed, nation building, evil and the indomitable human spirit. I will recommend this to all of my friends.

THIS ONE IS A MUST LISTEN

Incredibly tragic story, brilliantly told.
Excellent narration.
This one is a MUST LISTEN / Read.

Bravo. Well done.

Disturbing, fascinating story

The excellent narrator only heightens the drama of this fascinating and deeply disturbing chapter in maritime history. Even though the disaster happened in 1629, the humanity of all involved, good and bad, resonates today.

Needs to be a Netflix series

Wow, what a tale. Great story, researched. Excellent voice talent, I cannot believe I never heard of that story before.

The elasticity of the story

it goes on like a soap opera, too many details that bores the listener. The mutiny on the bounty is a much better book.