It is 1629, and there is mutiny in the air aboard the Dutch ship Batavia as she plies her way towards Java with her precious cargo. Jan, a cabin boy, and Wouter, a young soldier, find themselves caught up in the tragic wrecking and bloody revolt that follow. But worse is to come? Based on the diaries of the ship's Commander, Rosemary Hayes' novel retells some of the most dramatic moments in sea history -¬ going on to suggest what might have happened to Jan and Wouter after they were sentenced, and exploring a discovery that continues to intrigue Australians to this day.