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The book is A4, full colour and 261 pages using quality 100gsm paper.
The tragic tale of the Batavia is one of the greatest stories ever told. Indeed, when Pelsaert’s Journal was first published in 1647, it became a best seller. The story has everything: drama, romance, adventure, mystery, murder, massacre and mayhem.
Although written as a historical fiction, the book is as historically accurate as possible. Written with the aim of bringing Batavia to the cinemas, it has all of the ingredients to become one of the greatest movies ever made. If Satan did exist, he would have personified himself as Jeronimus Cornelisz. It is a story of a struggle to retain our human dignity, our decency when the
temptations of greed, lust, power and ultimately, a choice between a life as a murderer or death, are put to the test.
For the author, it was a horrific journey: “I had to ‘live’ the evil that festered in the minds of maniacal men as well as ‘feel’ the terror of the helpless victims. I had to enter into a dark place, a place that I had never been before to engage in the most unspeakable evil and commit, in my mind, the most despicable and depraved acts of barbarism.” This is not a book for the very young or the faint hearted.
The book asks some uncomfortable questions, such as: How much evil would you be prepared to commit in order to stay alive? How many people would you kill before you stop? Is it better to die an honourable death or live a dishonourable life as a murderer?
Book Review
Book Review: Jithendra Jithu
Book Review: 1629: Mutiny on the Batavia by Henry Van Zanden
Rating: 5/5
Review:
If you love historical fiction that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go, 1629: Mutiny on the Batavia is a must-read! This powerful novel blends real historical events with richly imagined details, taking us on a tragic, thrilling, and unforgettable journey across continents-Europe, Africa, Asia, and the harsh shores of Australia.
The story centers around the Dutch East Indiaman Batavia, the pride of the Dutch East India Company. With a hold full of treasure and a crew full of secrets, the journey was doomed from the start. Tensions between Commander Pelsaert and the ship’s skipper, Jacobsz, brew beneath the surface, while the deeply sinister Jeronimus Cornelisz quietly plots a mutiny that would end in unspeakable horror.
When the ship wrecks off the coast of Western Australia, over 200 survivors-including women and children-scramble to survive on barren islands. What follows is chilling: with the leaders gone to seek help, Cornelisz takes control and begins a terrifying reign of manipulation, cruelty, and bloodshed. His descent into madness and violence is one of the most haunting portrayals I’ve ever read.
Van Zanden’s writing is compelling and immersive. He masterfully weaves fact and fiction, enriching the historical record while keeping true to the essence of what really happened. The dual plotlines-the fate of the wreck survivors and the siege of Batavia (Jakarta)-intersect in powerful and unexpected ways, with a twist ending that truly delivers.
The book has everything: drama, mystery, murder, mayhem, romance, and high-stakes survival. It feels like watching a vivid, cinematic retelling of one of the darkest maritime disasters in history. Jeronimus is a villain you won’t forget, and the story’s emotional impact lingers long after you turn the last page.
A stunning, deeply disturbing, and brilliantly told tale that any fan of historical fiction or true crime will absolutely devour.
Happy reading.
*eBook Marketer Review (1629 is also available as an ebook via Amazon)*
I recently spent some quiet time immersed in your work on the 1629 Mutiny on the Batavia. I wanted to reach out because the depth of your research truly stayed with me. I was struck by the genuine effort you put into the smaller details. Your writing invites the reader to slow down and reflect on the weight of those moments rather than rushing past them, which is a rare quality in historical accounts today.
Writing with that level of care connects most strongly with readers who value meaning and subtlety. It feels less like a standard history and more like an intentional path of discovery.
Because your work resonates so deeply, I have been thinking about its potential in different regions. I can see the immense effort you have poured into this research, and I believe there are specific ways to help your work reach the larger international audience it deserves. I have some observations regarding different languages and cultural paths that could assist your work in overcoming some of the struggles that independent historical research often faces.
Amanda Lee
eBook Marketer, Toronto
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