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Formosa voorgoed verloren
The year is 1624. In southwestern Taiwan the Dutch establish a trading settlement; in Nagasaki a boy is born who will become immortalized as Ming dynasty loyalist Koxinga. Lord of Formosa tells the intertwined stories of Koxinga and the Dutch colony from their beginnings to their fateful climax in 1662. The year before, as Ming China collapsed in the face of the Manchu conquest, Koxinga retreated across the Taiwan Strait intent on expelling the Dutch. Thus began a nine-month battle for Fort Zeelandia, the single most compelling episode in the history of Taiwan. The first major military clash between China and Europe, it is a tale of determination, courage, and betrayal – a battle of wills between the stubborn Governor Coyett and the brilliant but volatile Koxinga. Although the story has been told in non-fiction works, these have suffered from a lack of sources on Koxinga as the little we know of him comes chiefly from his enemies.
While adhering to the historical facts, author Joyce Bergvelt sympathetically and intelligently fleshes out Koxinga. From his loving relationship with his Japanese mother, estrangement from his father (a Chinese merchant pirate), to his struggle with madness, we have the first rounded, intimate portrait of the man.
Dutch-born Bergvelt draws on her journalism background, Chinese language and history studies, and time in Taiwan, to create an irresistible panorama of memorable characters caught up in one of the seventeenth century’s most fascinating dramas.
While adhering to the historical facts, author Joyce Bergvelt sympathetically and intelligently fleshes out Koxinga. From his loving relationship with his Japanese mother, estrangement from his father (a Chinese merchant pirate), to his struggle with madness, we have the first rounded, intimate portrait of the man.
Dutch-born Bergvelt draws on her journalism background, Chinese language and history studies, and time in Taiwan, to create an irresistible panorama of memorable characters caught up in one of the seventeenth century’s most fascinating dramas.
562 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2015
45 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Joyce Bergvelt
3 books26 followersEnglish: (scroll down for Dutch)
Dutch-born Joyce M. Bergvelt (1963) left Holland for Japan at the age of ten, her nomadic childhood later taking her to England and finally, Taiwan, where she took up studying Chinese. She returned to England to embark on a degree in Chinese Studies at the University of Durham, which brought her to Beijing for a year at the Peoples’ (Renmin) University of China. In Sydney she studied Freelance Journalism and in Dubai she worked for a Dutch magazine.
'Formosa, voorgoed verloren' is her literary debut, which was longlisted for the Hebban Debut prize 2016 and was awarded three stars by the Dutch quality newspaper NRC Handelsblad. The original English edition of the book was published under the title 'Lord of Formosa' (Camphor Press, April 2018). The book was well received in Taiwan, and was runner-up for the Asian Books Blog Book of the Year award 2019.
The Chinese (trad.) translation appeared at Avanguard/Qianwei Publishing House (前衛出版社出版) Taipei on March 16th 2023.
Her second (Dutch) novel 'Commandeur van de Kaap' about the 17th century Dutch East India commander Simon van der Stel of Cape of Good Hope appeared in June 2022, while her latest Dutch novel 'Wat wij nalaten' was published in April 2025. .
Dutch:
Joyce Bergvelt (Amstelveen, 1963) groeide op in Japan, Engeland en Taiwan, waarna ze Chinese Studies studeerde aan de Engelse universiteit van Durham en een jaar doorbracht op de Volksuniversiteit (Renmin) in Beijing. Na haar studie keerde zij terug naar Nederland, waar ze onder andere werkte voor RTL Nederland. Ze woonde in Cairo en vervolgens in Sydney, waar zij een opleiding in Freelance Journalism volgde. Door de komst van een dochter en een zoon werd het schrijven even ‘on hold’ gezet.
Daarna lonkte het expat-leven opnieuw: drie jaar lang schreef zij voor 'Hollandse Nieuwe', de maandelijkse glossy van de Nederlandse Vereniging in Dubai. ‘Formosa, voorgoed verloren’ is haar eerste roman. Het boek stond op de longlist voor de Hebban Debutantenprijs 2016, werd door de NRC drie 'ballen' toegekend en is inmiddels in derde druk. De Engelse editie verscheen als 'Lord of Formosa' in 2018 bij Camphor Press. De Chinese vertaling van het boek verscheen op 16 maart 2023 bij Avanguard/Qianwei Publishing House (前衛出版社出版) in Taipei.
Bergvelts tweede historische roman 'Commandeur van de Kaap' over de 17e-eeuwse commandant Simon van der Stel van Kaap de Goede Hoop verscheen in juni 2022.
Beide romans zijn opgenomen in het Literair Canon van Nederland onder het kader van Romans en Verhalen over de VOC.
Haar nieuwste Nederlandstalige roman, 'Wat wij nalaten', verschijnt in april 2025.
Dutch-born Joyce M. Bergvelt (1963) left Holland for Japan at the age of ten, her nomadic childhood later taking her to England and finally, Taiwan, where she took up studying Chinese. She returned to England to embark on a degree in Chinese Studies at the University of Durham, which brought her to Beijing for a year at the Peoples’ (Renmin) University of China. In Sydney she studied Freelance Journalism and in Dubai she worked for a Dutch magazine.
'Formosa, voorgoed verloren' is her literary debut, which was longlisted for the Hebban Debut prize 2016 and was awarded three stars by the Dutch quality newspaper NRC Handelsblad. The original English edition of the book was published under the title 'Lord of Formosa' (Camphor Press, April 2018). The book was well received in Taiwan, and was runner-up for the Asian Books Blog Book of the Year award 2019.
The Chinese (trad.) translation appeared at Avanguard/Qianwei Publishing House (前衛出版社出版) Taipei on March 16th 2023.
Her second (Dutch) novel 'Commandeur van de Kaap' about the 17th century Dutch East India commander Simon van der Stel of Cape of Good Hope appeared in June 2022, while her latest Dutch novel 'Wat wij nalaten' was published in April 2025. .
Dutch:
Joyce Bergvelt (Amstelveen, 1963) groeide op in Japan, Engeland en Taiwan, waarna ze Chinese Studies studeerde aan de Engelse universiteit van Durham en een jaar doorbracht op de Volksuniversiteit (Renmin) in Beijing. Na haar studie keerde zij terug naar Nederland, waar ze onder andere werkte voor RTL Nederland. Ze woonde in Cairo en vervolgens in Sydney, waar zij een opleiding in Freelance Journalism volgde. Door de komst van een dochter en een zoon werd het schrijven even ‘on hold’ gezet.
Daarna lonkte het expat-leven opnieuw: drie jaar lang schreef zij voor 'Hollandse Nieuwe', de maandelijkse glossy van de Nederlandse Vereniging in Dubai. ‘Formosa, voorgoed verloren’ is haar eerste roman. Het boek stond op de longlist voor de Hebban Debutantenprijs 2016, werd door de NRC drie 'ballen' toegekend en is inmiddels in derde druk. De Engelse editie verscheen als 'Lord of Formosa' in 2018 bij Camphor Press. De Chinese vertaling van het boek verscheen op 16 maart 2023 bij Avanguard/Qianwei Publishing House (前衛出版社出版) in Taipei.
Bergvelts tweede historische roman 'Commandeur van de Kaap' over de 17e-eeuwse commandant Simon van der Stel van Kaap de Goede Hoop verscheen in juni 2022.
Beide romans zijn opgenomen in het Literair Canon van Nederland onder het kader van Romans en Verhalen over de VOC.
Haar nieuwste Nederlandstalige roman, 'Wat wij nalaten', verschijnt in april 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 17, 2017
The Dutch East India Company set up a trading post in Taiwan in the 17th century coinciding with the Ming dynasty’s downfall in China. From their forts the Dutch controlled the island which was rapidly being populated by Ming loyalists fleeing turmoil on the mainland. Dutch agricultural taxation policies and the auctioning of trading monopolies to the highest bidder caused clashes between indigenous Taiwanese, poor Chinese farmers and the middle class traders. Popular uprisings were forcefully crushed by the Dutch. Meanwhile on the mainland the Ming loyalist Zheng family in Quanzhou kept on resisting the Manchu usurpers of the throne, raising armies and a naval fleet. When their battle fortunes changed the Zheng family under leadership of Coxinha retreated to the island of Taiwan, forcing out the Dutch after a 9 month siege of Port Zealandia. Joyce Bergvelt has written a very informative, well researched historical novel of the VOC’s history on the island that is engrossing and a smooth read. As she writes in her epilogue, Bergvelt had to fill in the characters with her imagination, I felt that she judged many situations based on our modern day values (such as our ideas on labor, authoritarian rule), this portrayed the Dutch colonists as harsher than deserved. I would argue that the way peasants were treated by the Dutch was on par with how they would have been treated by landlords in China at that time, and perhaps not much differently from peasants back in the home provinces of Holland too.
August 15, 2018
A young half-Japanese, half-Chinese boy is sent to live with his father in China and eventually grows up to become the warlord Koxinga, who wrests control of Formosa--modern-day Taiwan--from Dutch colonial rule in the 17th century.
As a work of historical fiction, this novel seems to stick closely to the actual events as far as I'm aware. There may be some creative license with some of the characters and motivations, and necessary choices between conflicting accounts, but it seems to be well-received in terms of accuracy. It's certainly an interesting story from an historical perspective.
On the literary level, the novel is a bit lacking. First off, it fails in the setting and atmosphere department. Few readers today are familiar with 17th-century Asia, and this book does little to educate us. Second, the narrative at times falls into the realm of non-fiction in the way it matter-of-factly presents information. Third, many of the Dutch characters lack presence, making it difficult to remember who is who. Finally, the ending seems to be detached from the characters' perspectives. It's not written in a way a novelist would have the characters naturally present the story. It almost feels like a tired writer giving up on the characters' points of view and just quickly wrapping up the novel. The worst of this is a letter at the end--written for obvious, heavy-handed benefit of readers of the novel--in which the former Dutch governor of Formosa writes to his son in a manner that treats the son as having no knowledge of events the son himself has obviously lived.
There are a couple of highlights, however--not the least of which is a fascinating story, even if the reader doesn't already know much about Taiwan. This is definitely a story that would make a good movie...if it's made well. (It would make a good novel, too, if written well.) The narrative is also surprisingly smooth when the author is in fiction mode. But the nicest thing I can say about this novel is the wonderful objectivity with which the writer has presented it. Even though the writer is of Dutch descent herself, you won't catch a whiff of bias here. Each side, the Chinese and Dutch, are both presented as having dueling, legitimate reasons for their actions. Each side feels they are in the right, and proof of their assertions is reasonably given. It's up to the reader to decide how they personally feel about the story.
It's almost a good book, especially considering it's a debut novel, but it lacks polish. Fascinating story, though, and well worth it for people who have an interest in Taiwan or the European colonization of Asia.
As a work of historical fiction, this novel seems to stick closely to the actual events as far as I'm aware. There may be some creative license with some of the characters and motivations, and necessary choices between conflicting accounts, but it seems to be well-received in terms of accuracy. It's certainly an interesting story from an historical perspective.
On the literary level, the novel is a bit lacking. First off, it fails in the setting and atmosphere department. Few readers today are familiar with 17th-century Asia, and this book does little to educate us. Second, the narrative at times falls into the realm of non-fiction in the way it matter-of-factly presents information. Third, many of the Dutch characters lack presence, making it difficult to remember who is who. Finally, the ending seems to be detached from the characters' perspectives. It's not written in a way a novelist would have the characters naturally present the story. It almost feels like a tired writer giving up on the characters' points of view and just quickly wrapping up the novel. The worst of this is a letter at the end--written for obvious, heavy-handed benefit of readers of the novel--in which the former Dutch governor of Formosa writes to his son in a manner that treats the son as having no knowledge of events the son himself has obviously lived.
There are a couple of highlights, however--not the least of which is a fascinating story, even if the reader doesn't already know much about Taiwan. This is definitely a story that would make a good movie...if it's made well. (It would make a good novel, too, if written well.) The narrative is also surprisingly smooth when the author is in fiction mode. But the nicest thing I can say about this novel is the wonderful objectivity with which the writer has presented it. Even though the writer is of Dutch descent herself, you won't catch a whiff of bias here. Each side, the Chinese and Dutch, are both presented as having dueling, legitimate reasons for their actions. Each side feels they are in the right, and proof of their assertions is reasonably given. It's up to the reader to decide how they personally feel about the story.
It's almost a good book, especially considering it's a debut novel, but it lacks polish. Fascinating story, though, and well worth it for people who have an interest in Taiwan or the European colonization of Asia.
August 10, 2018
In 1624 the island of Formosa belongs to the Dutch as a valuable fortress and trading post. The mainland, China, is fraught with tension and war as the Manchus battle the Ming dynasty and are slowly but certainly winning. Ming supporters are fleeing south and actually leaving for Formosa and other islands in the vicinity. Meanwhile Koxinga is the son of a powerful Ming Admiral who is willing to fight the Manchus to the bitter end. However, that is not the way history is to unfold.
Koxinga hears a prophecy when he is very young that he will be the Lord of Formosa but also that he will have to pay an immense price for that glorious role. That fuels his evolution as a thinker, soldier, and trader, roles that are fostered by his father’s illustrious training and respected role throughout China. Meanwhile, the Dutch are in charge of Formosa but their strength is slowly being drained by the divisions in their own leadership. Many are good at trade but their poor treatment of the Chinese and distrust of fellow Dutch leaders will prove to be their undoing. When one makes that statement in a sentence, it may strike the reader as benign. But the reality is far from benign; literally thousands of deaths will follow as the Dutch send leader after leader to Formosa while Koxinga is planning a massive sea and land battle. The incremental victory of the Chinese on the island is fascinating reading.
Koxinga, during these protracted developments, is suffering from what was probably syphilis. He attempts to get a Dutch physician to heal him but that doesn’t work out so well. Instead, his volatile temper is increasing to the point where his own supporters are afraid to be around him. His behavior in the finale of this novel is ruthlessly brutal. The Dutch men and women will lose numerous leaders and family members, but history is replete with such losses. Koxinga is honored to this day as an incomparable leader who made Formosa the successful and safe place it was and remains to the present.
For those who love Chinese history, Lord of Formosa is a powerful read and one which this reviewer highly recommends!
Koxinga hears a prophecy when he is very young that he will be the Lord of Formosa but also that he will have to pay an immense price for that glorious role. That fuels his evolution as a thinker, soldier, and trader, roles that are fostered by his father’s illustrious training and respected role throughout China. Meanwhile, the Dutch are in charge of Formosa but their strength is slowly being drained by the divisions in their own leadership. Many are good at trade but their poor treatment of the Chinese and distrust of fellow Dutch leaders will prove to be their undoing. When one makes that statement in a sentence, it may strike the reader as benign. But the reality is far from benign; literally thousands of deaths will follow as the Dutch send leader after leader to Formosa while Koxinga is planning a massive sea and land battle. The incremental victory of the Chinese on the island is fascinating reading.
Koxinga, during these protracted developments, is suffering from what was probably syphilis. He attempts to get a Dutch physician to heal him but that doesn’t work out so well. Instead, his volatile temper is increasing to the point where his own supporters are afraid to be around him. His behavior in the finale of this novel is ruthlessly brutal. The Dutch men and women will lose numerous leaders and family members, but history is replete with such losses. Koxinga is honored to this day as an incomparable leader who made Formosa the successful and safe place it was and remains to the present.
For those who love Chinese history, Lord of Formosa is a powerful read and one which this reviewer highly recommends!
June 9, 2018
Having recently spent three months in Tainan, Taiwan, I had heard about Koxinga, taken courses at the National Cheng Kong University (NCKU), visited Chi Kan Tower (赤崁樓, Chì kàn lóu), which was built on the foundations for Fort Provintia, and saw Fort Zeelandia in Anping. The take away was that the Dutch had had a colony in Taiwan (from 1624 to 1662), Dutch Formosa, but where ultimately driven out by Koxinga, aka Zheng Cheng Gong (鄭成功). Zheng Cheng Gong, born of Chinese father and Japanese mother, and a fierce loyalist of the Ming dynasty, had been force out of China, came to Taiwan and removed the Dutch, and became the ruler of Taiwan, and Tainan was the capital of the short-lived kingdom (until 1683) when the Qing Rules conquered Taiwan and ultimately defeated the Zheng family. Interestingly, Zheng was born the year the Dutch came to Taiwan, and died shortly after he drove them out.
While studying Chinese in Tainan, I read several books of Taiwan history, which I shared with at least one other student. That student, Izzah, knew I liked history, sent me the link to a Taiwan News article about the book, Lord of Formosa, which I quickly purchased and have now finished.
There are many positive aspects of this book and the telling. First, I suspect that many in the United States probably do not know anything about the Dutch having a colony in Taiwan. The author indicates that many in the Netherlands do not know about this; and there is at least one Tainan (English language) website that indicates the details of that history are not known in Taiwan. Thus, the author is telling a story of a history that is not well known.
Second, this novel is historical fiction. As I heard another author, Geraldine Brooks, say, in writing historical fiction, it is good to write about people and events where not too much is known; this allows the author to create an impression (poor paraphrase). In Lord of Formosa, the key figures are known, and there is reference to some of their traits in historical records. The author contribution is to create some life (her words were to “breathe some life”) into the characters. On the Dutch side, she used writing of the last Governor, Frederic Coyett (although she indicates that his view was very biased based on what happened to him after the loss of Taiwan). In particular, a real contribution is to breathe life into the Dutch characters, and paints a very sympathetic picture of the last Governor (Coyett). At the same time, she explores the relationship of Koxinga to his father (who sided with the Qing), his Japanese mother (who raised him for the first many years of his life, and later rejoined him when he moved to China).
Third, for those going to Tainan, having read this book will give a new dimension to the history, especially in thinking how the Dutch managed to survive for 9 months of a siege. [Note, this is not an original comment – I read something like that off of the book’s facebook page – and I agree.]
On the negative side, while the writing did flow throughout the book, at times I found the writing a bit flat or a bit forced.
In summary, the author has contributed a historical fiction (well rooted in the history) about a time many of us do not know about, she adds a perspective of the people involved (especially from the Dutch, in particular Coyett, and Koxinga), and this book will give new insights from those individuals who travel to Tainan or want to know more about Taiwan history.
Below are some links, both about Taiwan history and about the book Lord of Formosa.
Izzah, thank you for drawing my attention to this book!
Taiwan History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederi...
https://archive.org/details/tverwaerl...
https://www.amazon.com/Neglected-Form...
https://tainancity.wordpress.com/2009...
Lord of Formosa
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news...
http://bookish.asia/author-interview-...
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
https://www.facebook.com/LordofFormosa/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
While studying Chinese in Tainan, I read several books of Taiwan history, which I shared with at least one other student. That student, Izzah, knew I liked history, sent me the link to a Taiwan News article about the book, Lord of Formosa, which I quickly purchased and have now finished.
There are many positive aspects of this book and the telling. First, I suspect that many in the United States probably do not know anything about the Dutch having a colony in Taiwan. The author indicates that many in the Netherlands do not know about this; and there is at least one Tainan (English language) website that indicates the details of that history are not known in Taiwan. Thus, the author is telling a story of a history that is not well known.
Second, this novel is historical fiction. As I heard another author, Geraldine Brooks, say, in writing historical fiction, it is good to write about people and events where not too much is known; this allows the author to create an impression (poor paraphrase). In Lord of Formosa, the key figures are known, and there is reference to some of their traits in historical records. The author contribution is to create some life (her words were to “breathe some life”) into the characters. On the Dutch side, she used writing of the last Governor, Frederic Coyett (although she indicates that his view was very biased based on what happened to him after the loss of Taiwan). In particular, a real contribution is to breathe life into the Dutch characters, and paints a very sympathetic picture of the last Governor (Coyett). At the same time, she explores the relationship of Koxinga to his father (who sided with the Qing), his Japanese mother (who raised him for the first many years of his life, and later rejoined him when he moved to China).
Third, for those going to Tainan, having read this book will give a new dimension to the history, especially in thinking how the Dutch managed to survive for 9 months of a siege. [Note, this is not an original comment – I read something like that off of the book’s facebook page – and I agree.]
On the negative side, while the writing did flow throughout the book, at times I found the writing a bit flat or a bit forced.
In summary, the author has contributed a historical fiction (well rooted in the history) about a time many of us do not know about, she adds a perspective of the people involved (especially from the Dutch, in particular Coyett, and Koxinga), and this book will give new insights from those individuals who travel to Tainan or want to know more about Taiwan history.
Below are some links, both about Taiwan history and about the book Lord of Formosa.
Izzah, thank you for drawing my attention to this book!
Taiwan History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koxinga
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederi...
https://archive.org/details/tverwaerl...
https://www.amazon.com/Neglected-Form...
https://tainancity.wordpress.com/2009...
Lord of Formosa
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news...
http://bookish.asia/author-interview-...
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...
https://www.facebook.com/LordofFormosa/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
July 18, 2018
Author Interview: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
I did a bit of a double take when I stumbled across Joyce Bergvelt's Lord of Formosa. Off the top of my head, I couldn't remember ever encountering a historical novel set in Taiwan and in all honestly, I was intrigued. This was a novel that promised to venture far from the beaten and I wasn't about to miss out.
I knew nothing about the history of Taiwan when I picked up this book. The story also takes place in China and Japan which I knew a little about, but for the most part, I was flying blind. Having said that, I was pleased to discover my lack of familiarity with the subject matter didn't hinder my experience of the narrative. Bergvelt took great care to illustrate the culture, politics, and policies that shaped Dutch Formosa without heavy-handed exposition. The story is easy to absorb even for those encountering the material for the first time.
Bergvelt's characters are equally compelling. Koxinga and Coyett boast genuine depth and I finished the novel feeling as though I understood more than one side of the story. History itself is not black and white and it was nice to discover an author who acknowledged the multi-faceted nature of her subject matter. This is definitely not the norm and lent a refreshing quality to the narrative.
In sum, I loved the time I spent with this book and hope to more from Bergvelt very soon. Highly Recommended.
Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
I did a bit of a double take when I stumbled across Joyce Bergvelt's Lord of Formosa. Off the top of my head, I couldn't remember ever encountering a historical novel set in Taiwan and in all honestly, I was intrigued. This was a novel that promised to venture far from the beaten and I wasn't about to miss out.
I knew nothing about the history of Taiwan when I picked up this book. The story also takes place in China and Japan which I knew a little about, but for the most part, I was flying blind. Having said that, I was pleased to discover my lack of familiarity with the subject matter didn't hinder my experience of the narrative. Bergvelt took great care to illustrate the culture, politics, and policies that shaped Dutch Formosa without heavy-handed exposition. The story is easy to absorb even for those encountering the material for the first time.
Bergvelt's characters are equally compelling. Koxinga and Coyett boast genuine depth and I finished the novel feeling as though I understood more than one side of the story. History itself is not black and white and it was nice to discover an author who acknowledged the multi-faceted nature of her subject matter. This is definitely not the norm and lent a refreshing quality to the narrative.
In sum, I loved the time I spent with this book and hope to more from Bergvelt very soon. Highly Recommended.
December 5, 2016
I read an English translation of this book, by the author (who I will admit straight up is my cousin) and really enjoyed it. It is a historical novel based in Taiwan, when it was under the control of the Dutch East India Company, and covers the political tensions between the Netherlands, Taiwan and China at that time.
The detail of this complex and violent political period is strong, the characters are believable and rounded, without the author falling into the trap of providing a psychological backstory that would not have been understood in an period long before the birth of psychoanalysis, and the different threads are brought together in a balanced way.
Nice job, Joyce.
The detail of this complex and violent political period is strong, the characters are believable and rounded, without the author falling into the trap of providing a psychological backstory that would not have been understood in an period long before the birth of psychoanalysis, and the different threads are brought together in a balanced way.
Nice job, Joyce.
February 15, 2016
Mooi historisch boek over de Nederlanders op Taiwan. het is duidelijk dat de auteur veel weet over gebruiken en geschiedenis. Ook mooi hoe de karakters ontwikkelen. Heel beeldend. Aanrader~
June 23, 2018
Travel should be an adventure. And reading – especially in the case of a book as well written as Joyce Bergvelt’s Lord of Formosa – ought to be one as well. So while it’s a break from tradition for this, primarily a website about Travel in Taiwan, it doesn’t seem like a far stretch to use my column for an old-fashioned book review, especially given that the book in question covers both a key period and key figure in Taiwan’s history.
Lord of Formosa begins in 1624, a year whose importance to the overall development of Taiwan would (like most dates in history) be revealed only in hindsight. In 1624, the Dutch established a trading settlement in southwestern Taiwan, becoming the first European colonists to effectively lay claim to the island. The same year a boy was born in Nagasaki, Japan. The son of a wealthy Chinese merchant and a Japanese woman, the boy was named Zheng Shan. Years later, having proven himself militarily as the Ming dynasty gave way to the Qing, he would be given a new name Chenggong (“Success”). Most people in the western world would come to know him by his title, Koxinga, “Lord of the Imperial Surname”.
Though Chenggong would ultimately fail in his life’s goal to defeat the Qing and restore the Ming, the Admiral achieved a most noteworthy success, for which he is justly remembered in both China and Taiwan: Driving the Dutch from their then-colony Formosa, making him the first Chinese military figure to chalk up a decisive victory in a major clash between Chinese and European forces.
Lord of Formosa follows from start to finish the inexorably linked stories of Taiwan under Dutch rule, and of the man who would bring that rule to an end. Most people in Taiwan (and some students of the history of European colonialism) know parts of the tale, but only in the broadest of strokes.
The statue in Tainan showing Koxinga accepting the surrender of a clearly humbled Frederick Coyett (the last Dutch governor of Formosa, and another of Lord of Formosa’s main characters) following the Siege of Fort Zeelandia tells the end of the story. But history tends to be more nuanced, and while adhering to the historical facts, Bergvelt uses as her literary device a mixture of historical fact and fiction, at least fiction in the sense that many of the thoughts and actions of some of her decidedly historical figures are unknowable.
Not everything is lost in the mist of time, and Bergvelt puts her skills as a journalist (and mother tongue) to excellent use, using as part of her source material the original Dutch version of Frederick Coyett’s Neglected Formosa. The book was written by the last Dutch governor of Formosa (who, despite his efforts, was not rewarded with the Dutch East India Company’s 1662 employee of the year award) following the events depicted in Lord of Formosa and finally immortalized in sculpture in the Chikan Tower courtyard.
The Dutch Surrender to Koxinga
This statue tells the end of the story; Lord of Formosa tells the rest.
It’s probably for this reason the scenes taking place on Formosa from the Dutch perceptive read (to me, at least) almost like journalism, whereas the scenes following Koxinga had a more quasi-fictional feel; not in the sense of being any less grounded in history, but in that they felt more intimate, more romanticized.
Bias may be at play here, both on my part as reader and (possibly) Bergvelt’s as author. Koxinga was clearly a larger than life figure, something probably not true for the doomed-to-historical-footnote status Coyett. And though it’s probably a matter of opinion, the cultural tapestry of 17th century China strikes me as far more colorful, vibrant and interesting as that of the 17th century Holland from which most of the colonists came.
For me, where Lord of Formosa shone brightest were the scenes in which these two narrative worlds collided. About midway through the narrative, the book follows a European doctor from the colony who’s been sent to Koxinga’s camp as a cross between peace offering and spy. The reader gets to see Koxinga through the doctor’s eyes, not just as a legendary, fanatical figure in China’s history, but as a human being suffering from various unmentionable maladies (and a difficult patient at that).
If I have any criticism of Lord of Formosa at all, it’s the same criticism I’ve had of history in general since around the time I was old enough to stop believing in fairy tales. As the narrative progressed to its final, well-documented conclusion, I was increasingly less sure of which side to root for. Though both men are painted as “honorable by the standards of the time”, neither Koxinga nor Coyett (nor, for that matter, their many allies/minions) seemed like the sort of people I wanted to hang out with.
One scene in particular drove home the “honorable by the standards of the time” thing for me: A Dutch girl who’s being held hostage is brought to Koxinga to be raped. Recalling his own mother and sister, both of whom had been raped by Manchu soldiers as the last Ming strongholds in China fell, the Admiral spares the girl, but not before having her roughed up a bit so as to not allow his underlings to mistake his mercy for weakness (or impotence) on his part.
Another author might have chosen to have painted Koxinga’s action as chivalry. Bergvelt does not, making it clear Koxinga believes raping an enemy’s daughter to be perfectly permissible by the standards of the time, and chooses not to out of filial piety rather than enlightenment. The author’s choice to do so speaks to her clear-eyed and unflinching approach to her subjects. As the story progresses and Koxinga becomes increasingly admirable from a military perspective, he becomes increasingly damaged as a human.
Which is likely not far from reality. War is hell. Hell breeds demons.
I began this column with a quip on travel, so it feels right to end on a similar note. Lord of Formosa was my travel companion during a recent trip to Tainan to research a few of the more traditional travel stories about Tainan you’ll find on this site. In creating my itinerary, I specifically avoided the aforementioned Fort Zeelandia and Chikan Tower. Both are considered Tainan must-visits, and I’d “must-visited” both on multiple occasions.
However, as timing would have it, I finished Lord of Formosa in the hotel on the trip’s last night, and though I’d originally planned to head back to Taipei early the next day, instead I headed out to Fort Zeelandia and spent an hour walking around the area.
Little of the area would have been recognizable to either Koxinga or Coyett, time and tides having altered the landscape dramatically, but on this trip I felt a historical gravitas that had eluded me on previous visits. On the way to the train station, I headed over to Chikan tower to look once more at the sculpture I’d seen many times before. The scene felt more real to me than it had before, almost uncomfortably intimate. I found myself feeling something; perhaps not sympathy but empathy for Koxinga, Coyett, and the countless long-gone people on both sides of their historic struggle.
Lord of Formosa begins in 1624, a year whose importance to the overall development of Taiwan would (like most dates in history) be revealed only in hindsight. In 1624, the Dutch established a trading settlement in southwestern Taiwan, becoming the first European colonists to effectively lay claim to the island. The same year a boy was born in Nagasaki, Japan. The son of a wealthy Chinese merchant and a Japanese woman, the boy was named Zheng Shan. Years later, having proven himself militarily as the Ming dynasty gave way to the Qing, he would be given a new name Chenggong (“Success”). Most people in the western world would come to know him by his title, Koxinga, “Lord of the Imperial Surname”.
Though Chenggong would ultimately fail in his life’s goal to defeat the Qing and restore the Ming, the Admiral achieved a most noteworthy success, for which he is justly remembered in both China and Taiwan: Driving the Dutch from their then-colony Formosa, making him the first Chinese military figure to chalk up a decisive victory in a major clash between Chinese and European forces.
Lord of Formosa follows from start to finish the inexorably linked stories of Taiwan under Dutch rule, and of the man who would bring that rule to an end. Most people in Taiwan (and some students of the history of European colonialism) know parts of the tale, but only in the broadest of strokes.
The statue in Tainan showing Koxinga accepting the surrender of a clearly humbled Frederick Coyett (the last Dutch governor of Formosa, and another of Lord of Formosa’s main characters) following the Siege of Fort Zeelandia tells the end of the story. But history tends to be more nuanced, and while adhering to the historical facts, Bergvelt uses as her literary device a mixture of historical fact and fiction, at least fiction in the sense that many of the thoughts and actions of some of her decidedly historical figures are unknowable.
Not everything is lost in the mist of time, and Bergvelt puts her skills as a journalist (and mother tongue) to excellent use, using as part of her source material the original Dutch version of Frederick Coyett’s Neglected Formosa. The book was written by the last Dutch governor of Formosa (who, despite his efforts, was not rewarded with the Dutch East India Company’s 1662 employee of the year award) following the events depicted in Lord of Formosa and finally immortalized in sculpture in the Chikan Tower courtyard.
The Dutch Surrender to Koxinga
This statue tells the end of the story; Lord of Formosa tells the rest.
It’s probably for this reason the scenes taking place on Formosa from the Dutch perceptive read (to me, at least) almost like journalism, whereas the scenes following Koxinga had a more quasi-fictional feel; not in the sense of being any less grounded in history, but in that they felt more intimate, more romanticized.
Bias may be at play here, both on my part as reader and (possibly) Bergvelt’s as author. Koxinga was clearly a larger than life figure, something probably not true for the doomed-to-historical-footnote status Coyett. And though it’s probably a matter of opinion, the cultural tapestry of 17th century China strikes me as far more colorful, vibrant and interesting as that of the 17th century Holland from which most of the colonists came.
For me, where Lord of Formosa shone brightest were the scenes in which these two narrative worlds collided. About midway through the narrative, the book follows a European doctor from the colony who’s been sent to Koxinga’s camp as a cross between peace offering and spy. The reader gets to see Koxinga through the doctor’s eyes, not just as a legendary, fanatical figure in China’s history, but as a human being suffering from various unmentionable maladies (and a difficult patient at that).
If I have any criticism of Lord of Formosa at all, it’s the same criticism I’ve had of history in general since around the time I was old enough to stop believing in fairy tales. As the narrative progressed to its final, well-documented conclusion, I was increasingly less sure of which side to root for. Though both men are painted as “honorable by the standards of the time”, neither Koxinga nor Coyett (nor, for that matter, their many allies/minions) seemed like the sort of people I wanted to hang out with.
One scene in particular drove home the “honorable by the standards of the time” thing for me: A Dutch girl who’s being held hostage is brought to Koxinga to be raped. Recalling his own mother and sister, both of whom had been raped by Manchu soldiers as the last Ming strongholds in China fell, the Admiral spares the girl, but not before having her roughed up a bit so as to not allow his underlings to mistake his mercy for weakness (or impotence) on his part.
Another author might have chosen to have painted Koxinga’s action as chivalry. Bergvelt does not, making it clear Koxinga believes raping an enemy’s daughter to be perfectly permissible by the standards of the time, and chooses not to out of filial piety rather than enlightenment. The author’s choice to do so speaks to her clear-eyed and unflinching approach to her subjects. As the story progresses and Koxinga becomes increasingly admirable from a military perspective, he becomes increasingly damaged as a human.
Which is likely not far from reality. War is hell. Hell breeds demons.
I began this column with a quip on travel, so it feels right to end on a similar note. Lord of Formosa was my travel companion during a recent trip to Tainan to research a few of the more traditional travel stories about Tainan you’ll find on this site. In creating my itinerary, I specifically avoided the aforementioned Fort Zeelandia and Chikan Tower. Both are considered Tainan must-visits, and I’d “must-visited” both on multiple occasions.
However, as timing would have it, I finished Lord of Formosa in the hotel on the trip’s last night, and though I’d originally planned to head back to Taipei early the next day, instead I headed out to Fort Zeelandia and spent an hour walking around the area.
Little of the area would have been recognizable to either Koxinga or Coyett, time and tides having altered the landscape dramatically, but on this trip I felt a historical gravitas that had eluded me on previous visits. On the way to the train station, I headed over to Chikan tower to look once more at the sculpture I’d seen many times before. The scene felt more real to me than it had before, almost uncomfortably intimate. I found myself feeling something; perhaps not sympathy but empathy for Koxinga, Coyett, and the countless long-gone people on both sides of their historic struggle.
October 24, 2018
Lord of Formosa begins in 1624 and relays the sweeping saga of a boy born in the same year in Nagasaki, Japan at the same time as the Dutch were creating a trading settlement in southwestern Taiwan. The Dutch become the first European colonists to settle on Taiwan. One man is destined to bring it all to an end.
At a young age, our young protagonist, Zheng Shan, the son of a wealthy Chinese merchant and a Japanese woman, meets a fortune teller in Japan who promises him a rich and exciting life, full of pleasure, surprises, and the conquering of a mysterious land far away. He is also destined to pay an immense price for his future role with the island of Taiwan.
Zheng Shan moves to China to follow his destiny and eventually becomes known as the Ming dynasty warrior, Koxinga, “Lord of the Imperial Surname”.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is under the control of the Dutch East India Company and the political tension between Taiwan, the Netherlands, and China in the 1600s is fierce.
The Dutch colony in Taiwan extends from 1624 to 1662. Their trading post in Taiwan in the 17th century controls the island, causing trouble with taxes and trading and leading to further problems with indigenous Taiwanese, local Chinese, and other traders on the island.
Mainland China is at war as the Manchus clash with the Ming dynasty and the Manchus are slowly but surely winning the war. As Ming supporters flee mainland China and leave for Taiwan and other islands in the area, Koxinga is building his army and getting ready for battle. As Koxinga's strength increases, the Dutch are losing strength because of problems within their own camps.
At this time, Koxinga is also suffering from severe health issues and he sees a Dutch physician for help with his ailments. The prescribed remedies do not work and Koxinga's temper and attitude becomes increasingly unstable. His health does not stop him from his dreams of glory, however. Koxinga eventually drives The Dutch East India Company off the island and takes the island by force, thereby becoming the ruler and lord of Taiwan. The story comes around full circle when the prophecy comes true with Koxinga's death shortly after he removed the Dutch from Taiwan.
The main characters in this novel are well known figures in Taiwan's history and have been referenced by the author in several ways, including the perspectives of the people involved. For example, Bergvelt draws references and information from Frederick Coyett's Neglected Formosa, a book that was written by the last Dutch governor of Formosa who surrendered Formosa to Koxinga. Bergvelt does an impressive job of weaving fact and fiction together into a seamless story about a part of history that isn't well known to most people.
Lord of Formosa is well written, rich with facts and impressive story-telling, and it is extremely well researched. I think anyone interested in historical fiction will enjoy Lord of Formosa. I'm looking forward to Bergvelt's next book.
At a young age, our young protagonist, Zheng Shan, the son of a wealthy Chinese merchant and a Japanese woman, meets a fortune teller in Japan who promises him a rich and exciting life, full of pleasure, surprises, and the conquering of a mysterious land far away. He is also destined to pay an immense price for his future role with the island of Taiwan.
Zheng Shan moves to China to follow his destiny and eventually becomes known as the Ming dynasty warrior, Koxinga, “Lord of the Imperial Surname”.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is under the control of the Dutch East India Company and the political tension between Taiwan, the Netherlands, and China in the 1600s is fierce.
The Dutch colony in Taiwan extends from 1624 to 1662. Their trading post in Taiwan in the 17th century controls the island, causing trouble with taxes and trading and leading to further problems with indigenous Taiwanese, local Chinese, and other traders on the island.
Mainland China is at war as the Manchus clash with the Ming dynasty and the Manchus are slowly but surely winning the war. As Ming supporters flee mainland China and leave for Taiwan and other islands in the area, Koxinga is building his army and getting ready for battle. As Koxinga's strength increases, the Dutch are losing strength because of problems within their own camps.
At this time, Koxinga is also suffering from severe health issues and he sees a Dutch physician for help with his ailments. The prescribed remedies do not work and Koxinga's temper and attitude becomes increasingly unstable. His health does not stop him from his dreams of glory, however. Koxinga eventually drives The Dutch East India Company off the island and takes the island by force, thereby becoming the ruler and lord of Taiwan. The story comes around full circle when the prophecy comes true with Koxinga's death shortly after he removed the Dutch from Taiwan.
The main characters in this novel are well known figures in Taiwan's history and have been referenced by the author in several ways, including the perspectives of the people involved. For example, Bergvelt draws references and information from Frederick Coyett's Neglected Formosa, a book that was written by the last Dutch governor of Formosa who surrendered Formosa to Koxinga. Bergvelt does an impressive job of weaving fact and fiction together into a seamless story about a part of history that isn't well known to most people.
Lord of Formosa is well written, rich with facts and impressive story-telling, and it is extremely well researched. I think anyone interested in historical fiction will enjoy Lord of Formosa. I'm looking forward to Bergvelt's next book.
August 2, 2021
It doesn't seem quite right to give this novel only three stars as Joyce Bergvelt tells a fascinating story, relating the little known events that led up to the Ming loyalist/pirate Koxinga removing the Dutch colonists from the island of Formosa (Taiwan) in the 17th Century. Joyce Bergvelt, an expert on the period, uses only a smattering of creative licence to bring to life the characters of Koxinga and his opponent, Frederic Coyett, Dutch Governor of Formosa (though he was in fact Swedish!). However, though Joyce Bergvelt writes with clarity and precision, this story has more of a feel of a historical reconstruction as seen for instance of the Discovery Channel - fascinating for what it is, but not quite a novel. The lives of even the most interesting historical figures do not describe a typical novel's story arc, so taking Koxinga from childhood to death did not seem quite right to me, even if the focus of the novel was his taking of Formosa - the great event of his life. There felt way too much historical exposition in the novel which, though fascinating in itself, did not serve the story well. I suspect Joyce Bergvelt's expertise would have been better served if she had created a novel centred on entirely fictitious characters, who lived & struggled through these events with the real historical figures somewhat in the background, often talked about, perhaps even encountered in the narrative, but not the focus of the narrative. That I think would have made a better novel. Or maybe I am just prejudiced against novels focused the lives of real historical figures? I am not sure that's the case because Irving Stone and Taylor Caldwell, for example, have written novels that I have really enjoyed - the difference being, perhaps, that both those authors were extremely talented and knew how to properly frame a novel.
September 5, 2018
Several months ago I saw this book on Facebook and really attracted me. As a native Taiwanese, probably everyone knows 鄭成功 as 國姓爺 - an extraordinary person with high integrity, but too perfect. I was curious about what the real personality of Koxinga might be.
I bought this book via Kindle immediately after finished the first chapter because it quite close to the typical Japanese and Chinese culture. Based on a historical event, the author has successfully combined different kinds of characters and organize the relation web among those people which is quite so similar to the modern society. There is always all kinds of people exist in a group and make the group runs; Different leader makes whole different style of group and it could also be seen from the destiny of Chinese and Hollanders. The only thing that I doubt a little bit was the change of Ho Tin-Bin after he got demised because there is a Chinese proverb says 牛牽到北���還是牛, means a buffalo will be remain a buffalo even it's dragged to Beijing.
Generally, I love this novel and will recommend to my friends since our normal history education doesn't focus too much on Taiwan but whole Chinese and it is absurd that a huge part of Taiwanese know Chinese history far better than the history of their homeland. Plus, the image of Koxinga does too mythical to us because all we heard from elder people were so.
如果有台灣朋友在goodreads，強烈推薦各位讀讀看這本書，不僅將大家都熟悉的歷史事件具現化，也跳脫教科書的觀點將台灣的歷史更深入、時間軸更拉長，讀了之後更能感受到在明鄭前的台灣是怎麼樣的狀態，也就能跳脫現今的兩岸糾葛；此外邊閱讀邊發思古之幽情，發現到你我居住的這片土地上在接近400年前原來發生過這麼多事情，也許下次去台南時，更能感受到別於日治以外的西方氣息。
I bought this book via Kindle immediately after finished the first chapter because it quite close to the typical Japanese and Chinese culture. Based on a historical event, the author has successfully combined different kinds of characters and organize the relation web among those people which is quite so similar to the modern society. There is always all kinds of people exist in a group and make the group runs; Different leader makes whole different style of group and it could also be seen from the destiny of Chinese and Hollanders. The only thing that I doubt a little bit was the change of Ho Tin-Bin after he got demised because there is a Chinese proverb says 牛牽到北���還是牛, means a buffalo will be remain a buffalo even it's dragged to Beijing.
Generally, I love this novel and will recommend to my friends since our normal history education doesn't focus too much on Taiwan but whole Chinese and it is absurd that a huge part of Taiwanese know Chinese history far better than the history of their homeland. Plus, the image of Koxinga does too mythical to us because all we heard from elder people were so.
如果有台灣朋友在goodreads，強烈推薦各位讀讀看這本書，不僅將大家都熟悉的歷史事件具現化，也跳脫教科書的觀點將台灣的歷史更深入、時間軸更拉長，讀了之後更能感受到在明鄭前的台灣是怎麼樣的狀態，也就能跳脫現今的兩岸糾葛；此外邊閱讀邊發思古之幽情，發現到你我居住的這片土地上在接近400年前原來發生過這麼多事情，也許下次去台南時，更能感受到別於日治以外的西方氣息。
January 15, 2019
The first thing that struck me as I opened the book is the amount of research Bergvelt must have done to complete such an epic work. She skilfully brings to life the mythical Koxinga, Lord of the Imperial Surname, and paints a picture of Formosa in the seventeenth century when the Dutch colonized this island.
Fukumatsu, as Koxinga is first called by his Japanese mother, becomes Zhen Sen after he is summoned to his father’s home in the Fujian province of China. A fortune teller had already predicted his fate. The reader follows the story of his upbringing and education leading to the battles against the Manchu forces and the betrayal by his father. Then follow several military successes and defeats. Koxinga, convinced that his destiny is to rule over Formosa, fights for nine months until Coyett, the governor of the Dutch of the East Indian Company surrenders. Bergvelt manages to spin the tale from the two different viewpoints.
Well researched, full of historical details, truthful and unpretentious, the story flows. This novel takes you back in time to an important period in the history of Taiwan and the Netherlands. I learned a lot from an episode that I knew so little about. A fascinating read.
Fukumatsu, as Koxinga is first called by his Japanese mother, becomes Zhen Sen after he is summoned to his father’s home in the Fujian province of China. A fortune teller had already predicted his fate. The reader follows the story of his upbringing and education leading to the battles against the Manchu forces and the betrayal by his father. Then follow several military successes and defeats. Koxinga, convinced that his destiny is to rule over Formosa, fights for nine months until Coyett, the governor of the Dutch of the East Indian Company surrenders. Bergvelt manages to spin the tale from the two different viewpoints.
Well researched, full of historical details, truthful and unpretentious, the story flows. This novel takes you back in time to an important period in the history of Taiwan and the Netherlands. I learned a lot from an episode that I knew so little about. A fascinating read.
November 15, 2024
A page turner for a historical novel which was originally a thesis, which means that the research must be credible.
I don't even usually read this genre of fiction, but found myself thoroughly invested in the characters, fighting over the right to dominate in a hostile environment, with great cost to their own lives.
I don't even usually read this genre of fiction, but found myself thoroughly invested in the characters, fighting over the right to dominate in a hostile environment, with great cost to their own lives.
December 28, 2024
Nederlands vertaling gelezen terwijl ik opnreis was in Taiwan. Ik weet niet of ik het even boeiend had gevonden als ik er niet zelf geweest was. Wel een heel historisch boeiend en verhalend boek.
February 14, 2024
In Lord of Formosa, Joyce Bergvelt tells the story of Koxinga, a Southern Ming general who fought the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century and defeated the Dutch colonisers of Formosa, now modern-day Taiwan. The author tells Koxinga's biography alongside the evolution of the Dutch colonisation of the island, their attempts to increase direct trade with China, and how it impacts the Dutch relationship with transplanted Chinese on the island fleeing the growing Qing threat in China, as well as their relationship with the aboriginal people of the island.
If all of that sounds a little dry, then I have successfully prepared you for what to expect in this book. While this is categorised as an historical novel, it may have been better written as nonfiction. The characters are held at such a distance that the reader does not feel guided along through a time as much as given a chronology of events. As such, I found the whole novel difficult to read and the characters difficult to keep track of.
Bergvelt is noted as being a journalist, and the detailed history that she sets forth in this book speaks, not just to the depth of her research, but also a deep love for this area of the world. However, much of the storycraft that I look for in a novel was conspicuously absent from this telling. While the events of the characters lives were accounted, the characters themselves came across exceedingly dry to the point of arid. Koxinga was obviously the star of the portion of the novel focused on his progression, but I did not feel that he was fully explored in such a way that I could identify with him. He was facts on a page rather than a fully-developed character.
The Dutch characters were equally as dry. This becomes more of a problem given that the whole story takes place over more than 30 years during which the administration of Formosa changes hands several times. Yet the individual governors are hardly distinguished from one another, again, being more or less just facts on a page that often overlap. I did not feel connected to any of them, so felt completely apathetic when it came to the climactic battle that drove them out. Nor for that matter did I feel particularly connected to Koxinga making the ultimate climax of the book decidedly anticlimactic.
Now, I have not tagged this as a spoiler alert because this is history. Nothing in this book should come as a surprise to anyone. I am a lover of historical fiction, and would proudly argue that the genre cannot be spoiled. We already know what's going to happen - Pearl Harbor is going to be attacked; Marie Antoinette is going to be executed; the Vikings are going to take York; Rome is going to fall. These are facts. And yet, I've read more than enough excellent historical novels that engage me so thouroughly that I begin to actually doubt the real history. For instance, reading the beginning of Les Miserables (yes, it is in large part historical fiction), I was actually unsure of who won at Waterloo. Seriously, I had to look it up to confirm.
Storycraft is genuinely an art form. It is not easy; not everyone can do it. A writer who can paint a distinct and visceral picture that scoops the reader up and places them as a spectator right in the middle of the action is an artist. I think that Bergvelt might have written a wonderful nonficiton biography of the man who drove the Dutch from Formosa, but as a novel, this did not work for me.
If all of that sounds a little dry, then I have successfully prepared you for what to expect in this book. While this is categorised as an historical novel, it may have been better written as nonfiction. The characters are held at such a distance that the reader does not feel guided along through a time as much as given a chronology of events. As such, I found the whole novel difficult to read and the characters difficult to keep track of.
Bergvelt is noted as being a journalist, and the detailed history that she sets forth in this book speaks, not just to the depth of her research, but also a deep love for this area of the world. However, much of the storycraft that I look for in a novel was conspicuously absent from this telling. While the events of the characters lives were accounted, the characters themselves came across exceedingly dry to the point of arid. Koxinga was obviously the star of the portion of the novel focused on his progression, but I did not feel that he was fully explored in such a way that I could identify with him. He was facts on a page rather than a fully-developed character.
The Dutch characters were equally as dry. This becomes more of a problem given that the whole story takes place over more than 30 years during which the administration of Formosa changes hands several times. Yet the individual governors are hardly distinguished from one another, again, being more or less just facts on a page that often overlap. I did not feel connected to any of them, so felt completely apathetic when it came to the climactic battle that drove them out. Nor for that matter did I feel particularly connected to Koxinga making the ultimate climax of the book decidedly anticlimactic.
Now, I have not tagged this as a spoiler alert because this is history. Nothing in this book should come as a surprise to anyone. I am a lover of historical fiction, and would proudly argue that the genre cannot be spoiled. We already know what's going to happen - Pearl Harbor is going to be attacked; Marie Antoinette is going to be executed; the Vikings are going to take York; Rome is going to fall. These are facts. And yet, I've read more than enough excellent historical novels that engage me so thouroughly that I begin to actually doubt the real history. For instance, reading the beginning of Les Miserables (yes, it is in large part historical fiction), I was actually unsure of who won at Waterloo. Seriously, I had to look it up to confirm.
Storycraft is genuinely an art form. It is not easy; not everyone can do it. A writer who can paint a distinct and visceral picture that scoops the reader up and places them as a spectator right in the middle of the action is an artist. I think that Bergvelt might have written a wonderful nonficiton biography of the man who drove the Dutch from Formosa, but as a novel, this did not work for me.
February 9, 2020
In short, I think this ticks all the boxes. Quite possibly the closest thing from an European source I have seen to Mr Shiba’s ‘historical journalism’, Mevrouw Bergvelt’s investigation of Taiwan links the measly historical evidence we have with a solid narrative that describes Lord Koxinga’s struggle against the Qing and the Dutch colonization of Formosa.
Already the above will probably give a feeling of denseness. Fortunately, the book has a clear focus. The author is willing to jump a decade if nothing significant to move her plot along happens in that time, and though this means we’re not looking at a biography of Koxinga or the Dutch per se, we have a biography of the events of the final Ming defeat and Dutch rule on Formosa.
The distinction is minor though relevant, and of course a reader might want to investigate the subjects in more depth after this introduction. That, however, shouldn’t be a negative as the author’s goal of raising awareness of the Dutch rule on Taiwain. Perhaps the only negatives that came to me in the reading was that though the English version of the book is an original work of the Dutch, then some things that the Dutch might know instinctively were not expanded enough.
As such, the VOC’s Heren Zeventein was a term I had not come across before. This and other cultural concepts could have been explained in some depth along with a greater use of Dutch expressions in the English text. Nevertheless, these gripes are minor in comparison to the strength of this text.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
Already the above will probably give a feeling of denseness. Fortunately, the book has a clear focus. The author is willing to jump a decade if nothing significant to move her plot along happens in that time, and though this means we’re not looking at a biography of Koxinga or the Dutch per se, we have a biography of the events of the final Ming defeat and Dutch rule on Formosa.
The distinction is minor though relevant, and of course a reader might want to investigate the subjects in more depth after this introduction. That, however, shouldn’t be a negative as the author’s goal of raising awareness of the Dutch rule on Taiwain. Perhaps the only negatives that came to me in the reading was that though the English version of the book is an original work of the Dutch, then some things that the Dutch might know instinctively were not expanded enough.
As such, the VOC’s Heren Zeventein was a term I had not come across before. This and other cultural concepts could have been explained in some depth along with a greater use of Dutch expressions in the English text. Nevertheless, these gripes are minor in comparison to the strength of this text.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
June 10, 2018
Through her proficiency in Chinese and experience in Taiwan, Bergvelt offers an insightful account of the mysterious Dutch colonization period of Taiwan, and gives some characters real-lives living and struggling in the torrents of history, instead of thin, stereotypical descriptions we usually read in incomplete, even censored historic documents. Bergvelt is also excellent in controlling the tempo of the narrative, making the historic novel much more than a page-turner, but a book that one cannot help to return again and again. A few minor problems still exist in this generally excellent book, through. There remain stereotypical characters, mainly the rich Chinese immigrants as greedy, shrewd, and selfish, and aboriginals as lack of vision, fighting for no good reason. These minor problems, however, are understandable, as Taiwan in the 21th century is still struggling with erased and lost memories and histories, still trying to find its multiple origins. "Lord of Formosa" comes at the perfect time, for both Dutch and Taiwanese, as well as people interested in how legacy of Western colonization, however brief, lingers and impacts the identity of the colonized people and their descendants. Through this historic novel, Bergvelt reminds us that post-colonial struggle is never-ending and is not limited in politics, but all dimensions of life; she also reminds descendants of the colonizers that they should wake up from amnesia and learn from mistakes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2022
Lord of Formosa is well-researched, fast-paced, transporting, and enjoyable. Readers should not feel daunted by the book’s 440-page length: The story flies by. Asian settings and character names are made easy to assimilate by use of maps and by keeping the players to a minimum. Also, this is a transnational story, so it’s easier to keep track of the Chinese, Japanese, and Dutch names than it would be if all the names were Chinese. (Another bit of good news in this regard is that the main character, Zheng Chenggong, ends up with a Romanized name, Koxinga.) It is everything a historical fiction book should be.
One interesting facet of the book is Koxinga’s transition from protagonist to antagonist. It occurs abruptly in the “Physician” chapter, in which Koxinga is treated by a Dutch doctor. Seeing the volatile patient through the eyes of his caregiver effectively subjugates him to the latter’s judgement. For the balance of the novel, the narrative perspective – and the reader’s sympathy – remains with the Dutch, particularly with Formosa’s last governor, Frederic Coyett. A late-game discovery of restraint on Koxinga’s part salvages his appeal somewhat, and he winds up as an honorable antagonist though still an antagonist.
Author Joyce Bergvelt has done a great service in writing such a compelling book about Taiwan, which is such a uniquely fascinating place that it deserves a lot more books like this one.
One interesting facet of the book is Koxinga’s transition from protagonist to antagonist. It occurs abruptly in the “Physician” chapter, in which Koxinga is treated by a Dutch doctor. Seeing the volatile patient through the eyes of his caregiver effectively subjugates him to the latter’s judgement. For the balance of the novel, the narrative perspective – and the reader’s sympathy – remains with the Dutch, particularly with Formosa’s last governor, Frederic Coyett. A late-game discovery of restraint on Koxinga’s part salvages his appeal somewhat, and he winds up as an honorable antagonist though still an antagonist.
Author Joyce Bergvelt has done a great service in writing such a compelling book about Taiwan, which is such a uniquely fascinating place that it deserves a lot more books like this one.
July 22, 2022
A fun historical novel about 17th Century Ming loyalist Zheng Chenggong, a.k.a. Koxinga, who conquered the island of Formosa, now called Taiwan, in 1662. The story is extremely faithful to history, both European and Chinese, which is both its strength and its weakness, ping-ponging back and forth between Koxinga's camp and the Dutch defenders of Fort Zeelandia. The shifting points of view ultimately weaken Bergvelt’s story. It’s admirable that she’s chosen not to romanticize Koxinga, especially given his monstrous behavior. Perhaps a single narrator—for instance, one based on the Chinese-Dutch translator Ting-bin—might have unified the story and made it more powerful. However, the novel sheds light on the Hakka background of Zheng's family and posits a medical explanation for Koxinga's failing health and mental instability in his later years.
September 2, 2019
Having lived in Taiwan for almost 19 years now, I became aware of Joyce Bergvelt's Lord of Formosa through my wife. I found it a compelling and truly fascinating read. I knew a little of the history of the Dutch in Tainan, but Lord of Formosa gave me much more insight. The Dutch were great explorers of the age, but they lost Taiwan through neglect by the admiralty, and the expertise of Koxinga. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Taiwan/Dutch history.
September 4, 2019
Ms Bergvelt Writes a mean historical novel. This work giving background and form to the struggle between Chinese and Dutch for rule of Taiwan in the 1600s. Heretofore never having been a fan of the historical novel this has changed my taste in reading matter. Well researched, well written, easy to read and gripping, I would recommend this work to anyone.
Well written, informative historical novel with real pertinence for today
Well written, informative historical novel with real pertinence for today
June 23, 2020
Excellent historical novel about the real events pertaining to the Dutch colony of Formosa (today’s Taiwan) in the 1600’s, and its fall to the legendary Chinese ruler Lord Koxinga. A good historical perspective on the arrogance and entitlement of the European colonization era. As well, good insight into the fall of the Ming dynasty to the Manchurians, told through the story of Koxinga’s family (Zheng).
April 5, 2024
Las dit omdat ik helemaal in de ban ben van VOC en 17de eeuw maar wat een afknapper is dat: ergerlijke alwetende verteller, banale beschrijvingen, ... Voor mij niet de moeite waard om verder te lezen.
Ik wacht wel om meer te lezen over Formosa tot iemand van het kaliber van Geert Mak ('De levens van Jan Six'), Tom Dieusaert ('Rond de kaap'), Veerle De Vos ('Alles onder de hemel') of David Mitchel ('De niet verhoorde gebeden van Jacob de Zoet') ermee aan de slag gaat.
Ik wacht wel om meer te lezen over Formosa tot iemand van het kaliber van Geert Mak ('De levens van Jan Six'), Tom Dieusaert ('Rond de kaap'), Veerle De Vos ('Alles onder de hemel') of David Mitchel ('De niet verhoorde gebeden van Jacob de Zoet') ermee aan de slag gaat.
November 20, 2015
Een bijzonder spannende historische roman over de vergeten geschiedenis van de Nederlanders op Taiwan, en hoe deze daar spectaculair werden verdreven door de Chinese krijgsheer Koxinga, vol drama, intrige en gruwel. Een must-read voor wie houdt van de geschiedenis van China, Taiwan en de Nederlanders overzee, en een grote aanrader voor iedereen die gewoon van een goed verhaal houdt.
February 29, 2020
Interesting novel. Many chapters of the book read more like a historical biography, but it never got boring. I read an online edition and there were some spelling mistajes and some opinion and facts repeated multiple time, yet the overall impression was of a well researched history and very interesting.
May 31, 2021
A great retelling of one of the grandest story's of an Island I have become very fond of. The build up of characters on both sides and their very human and fair depictions pay off at the climax where fate hangs in the balance for the colonists and Koxinga. This book has a special place in my heart.
May 30, 2018
A stunning novel of ancient Taiwan. Bergvelt writes a beautiful story of the Dutch settlers on Taiwan and Ming dynasty warrior, Koxinga. If you enjoy historical fiction, you'll love this book.
August 11, 2019
"alsof ze de toekomst nog even op zich wilde laten wachten"
Goed boek over de historie van het prachtige, bijzondere, vrolijke Taiwan.
Goed boek over de historie van het prachtige, bijzondere, vrolijke Taiwan.
January 2, 2022
Right after finishing the book, I just thought "wow, that was quite an epic tale." :-O
February 15, 2024
Wonderful and well researched historical novel.
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