Beautifully realised account of a true story. The story of the wreck of the Dutch ship, the Batavia, is a true one. Ms Van de Rol has clearly researched not only widely, but very well to be able to retell it as she does. It's not just that the clothing and equipment used are correct, but that the atitudes of the people are of their time. Social differences are so important as to be defining, torture is regarded as a way to the truth, the fact that one of the main characters does not believe in Hell makes his actions justifiable to himself and (in a way) comprehensible to his fellows - he was clearly in a pact with the devil that he didn't believe in. The characters in the book are skillfully writtten and brilliantly concieved. Each one is consistently themselves, so, while they only do what they (historically) did, their motivations for their actions convince. All are fully rounded, with a full ration of human contradiction, though. The villain, Cornelisz, is a cold-blooded manipulator, who never kills another, but has no trouble in getting others to do it for him. He insists on seducing the Lady Lucretia rather than forcing her, however. She, in turn, beds with him to save her life, but suffers guilt over the fact that his love making stirs her more than her husband's ever did. Every part of this book worked for me perfectly, especially the ending, which is Ms Van de Rol's own convincing speculation on events which history does not record.
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