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The Blue-Eyed Aborigine
This is the story of a cabin boy called Jan Pelgrom and a soldier involved in a notorious mutiny after the shipwreck of the Batavia off Western Australia in 1629. Unlike most of the other mutineers who were hanged, the two men were marooned on the Australian mainland and become Australia's very first European settlers. pAlthough the Batavia mutiny and shipwreck are well documented, no one knows what happened to the two men after they were abandoned. However, later European explorers to the region reported coming across Aboriginal Australians with blue eyes. Rosemary Hayes' intriguing novel suggests what might have happened in between.pThis is an Intriguing, hard-hitting story#58; the first half is based on historical events,the second half is fictional. The author, whose Australian background gives authenticity to the story, is establishing herself as a writer on edgy subjects, following her previous books Mixing It, which deals with a relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim teenagers, and Payback, which is about forced marriage.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Rosemary Hayes
66 books15 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Rosemary Hayes was brought up and educated in the UK but has also lived in France, America and Australia. She has written over fifty books for children many of which have won, or been shortlisted for awards and several translated into different languages. She has recently turned her hand to writing historical fiction for adults, and the first in this genre, the award winning 'The King's Command' is about the terror and tragedy of a Huguenot family living in Louis XIV's France. The second, 'Traitor's Game' is the first in the trilogy 'Soldier Spy' and follows the exploits of Will Fraser, disgraced soldier, lover and reluctant spy, during the Napoleonic Wars. For many years Rosemary was a reader for a well known Authors’ Advisory Service; she now runs creative writing courses and workshops for adults.
To find out more about Rosemary or to order her books, visit her website www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk
Follow her on Facebook and X @HayesRosemary
Rosemary Hayes was brought up and educated in the UK but has also lived in France, America and Australia. She has written over fifty books for children many of which have won, or been shortlisted for awards and several translated into different languages. She has recently turned her hand to writing historical fiction for adults, and the first in this genre, the award winning 'The King's Command' is about the terror and tragedy of a Huguenot family living in Louis XIV's France. The second, 'Traitor's Game' is the first in the trilogy 'Soldier Spy' and follows the exploits of Will Fraser, disgraced soldier, lover and reluctant spy, during the Napoleonic Wars. For many years Rosemary was a reader for a well known Authors’ Advisory Service; she now runs creative writing courses and workshops for adults.
To find out more about Rosemary or to order her books, visit her website www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk
Follow her on Facebook and X @HayesRosemary
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 29, 2016
I was intrigued when someone had left a selection of books on a table and said "Take one and read it. Just return it when you're done" So, after looking at the pile of books I settled on this one; and I'm glad I did. Rosemary's descriptions and her ability to "show" the reader what each character is going through, shows her skill as a writer. I was unaware of the true historical background until I read the facts relating to the story at the end of the book. Rosemary has obviously carried out thorough research and enquiries before undertaking the task of writing this book. I feel that this book could be turned from teenage fiction into a good adult adventure.
July 15, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. Not my usual choice at all I normally choose murder mystery etc.
This attracted me and I thought I would like a change.
Very well researched and interesting. The only thing I would say is it was a bit short. The writer could have expanded more after one of the main characters died.
Overall I would recommend this.
This attracted me and I thought I would like a change.
Very well researched and interesting. The only thing I would say is it was a bit short. The writer could have expanded more after one of the main characters died.
Overall I would recommend this.
January 21, 2022
My grandma gave me this book. I don't know what to say but this book is so good. I’m glad that Jan met Heni and had 3 children. This is a happy ending for him even though a lot is going through his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2012
I’ll admit, the Blue Eyed Aborigine didn’t seem to me at first like something I would enjoy. For starters, I’m not particularly into the genre of realistic fiction, which is where this book belongs. It’s also one of those books based on a true event, which I almost never seem to enjoy. But as soon as I started reading it, I was enthralled by the style, the narrative, and most especially the story.
This book by Rosemary Hayes takes place in the late 1620’s, and centers around the adventures of Jan, a cabin boy serving on the Dutch vessel Batavia. The ship runs aground on a reef, and the survivors take refuge on an inhospitable cluster of islands. As food and water begins to run short, tensions run high, chaos and treachery reign supreme, and the refugees must choose between a tyrannical under merchant and a noble mason in a battle for survival. And that’s just the first half of the book. I’m not kidding. The entire first act of the book seems to be just an overlong introduction to the rest of the story, in which Jan and Wouter, a young soldier, are cast away on South Land, a.k.a. Australia, where they must survive by only their wits, and the support of a small tribe of Aborigines.
This is one of my biggest issues with the novel. A large section of the book is devoted to the struggles of the survivors of the Batavia scuttling, and the second act seems to expect us to just treat the first as a prologue. Personally, I find the first much more interesting than the second. However, that doesn’t mean the second act is bad. It just seems like Hayes took two books and jammed them together. I get this feeling especially when the perspective shifts from third-person past-tense in the first act to first-person present-tense in the second. The shift is extremely jarring, but I quickly got used to it. Don’t get me wrong, the book is still extremely enjoyable. Both acts are competently written and contain enough action to avoid being boring.
The writing is competent, if not excellent. There isn’t much use of symbolism or metaphor, which means it’s not a very deep or thought provoking novel, which may disappoint some readers. On the other hand, this makes it easier for casual readers to get into. Imagery, however, is abundant, and you can almost see yourself in whatever location is being described. Hayes also uses single apostrophes for dialogue rather than the standard double apostrophes, which is a personal bugbear of mine, but this is more of a nitpick than anything else. I just thought I’d bring it up. Overall, it’s an enjoyable novel of decent length with some exciting scenes and great imagery, even if it’s lacking in some other areas. The shift from third-person to first-person between acts is jarring, but not a huge problem, and readers will quickly be caught up in the flow of the book. I’d give it a hearty recommendation to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or castaway stories. Try it out. You won’t regret it.
Review by Kevin S.
This book by Rosemary Hayes takes place in the late 1620’s, and centers around the adventures of Jan, a cabin boy serving on the Dutch vessel Batavia. The ship runs aground on a reef, and the survivors take refuge on an inhospitable cluster of islands. As food and water begins to run short, tensions run high, chaos and treachery reign supreme, and the refugees must choose between a tyrannical under merchant and a noble mason in a battle for survival. And that’s just the first half of the book. I’m not kidding. The entire first act of the book seems to be just an overlong introduction to the rest of the story, in which Jan and Wouter, a young soldier, are cast away on South Land, a.k.a. Australia, where they must survive by only their wits, and the support of a small tribe of Aborigines.
This is one of my biggest issues with the novel. A large section of the book is devoted to the struggles of the survivors of the Batavia scuttling, and the second act seems to expect us to just treat the first as a prologue. Personally, I find the first much more interesting than the second. However, that doesn’t mean the second act is bad. It just seems like Hayes took two books and jammed them together. I get this feeling especially when the perspective shifts from third-person past-tense in the first act to first-person present-tense in the second. The shift is extremely jarring, but I quickly got used to it. Don’t get me wrong, the book is still extremely enjoyable. Both acts are competently written and contain enough action to avoid being boring.
The writing is competent, if not excellent. There isn’t much use of symbolism or metaphor, which means it’s not a very deep or thought provoking novel, which may disappoint some readers. On the other hand, this makes it easier for casual readers to get into. Imagery, however, is abundant, and you can almost see yourself in whatever location is being described. Hayes also uses single apostrophes for dialogue rather than the standard double apostrophes, which is a personal bugbear of mine, but this is more of a nitpick than anything else. I just thought I’d bring it up. Overall, it’s an enjoyable novel of decent length with some exciting scenes and great imagery, even if it’s lacking in some other areas. The shift from third-person to first-person between acts is jarring, but not a huge problem, and readers will quickly be caught up in the flow of the book. I’d give it a hearty recommendation to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or castaway stories. Try it out. You won’t regret it.
Review by Kevin S.
September 8, 2010
Amy's thoughts:
This is one of those stories that grows on you after you close the covers, that plays in your thoughts and lingers. Based on an historical event in 1629 - the shipwreck of the Dutch vessel the Batavia - The Blue-Eyed Aborigine is a beautiful blend of fact and fiction.
The story is told in two parts, a first section in third person with a 'classical' children's story style, and a second section in first person, alternating between the points of view of the two men involved. Something I found somewhat paradoxical initially was that the first section, written in the more distant third person, was much more confronting and graphic than the second, gentler, first-person section. However, by the end of the story I was convinced by this narrative technique, and when I had the opportunity to discuss the book with the author last Thursday, she confirmed the motivations for using this technique - check out the interview for her response.
The Blue-Eyed Aborigine is, fundamentally, the story of Jan, a Dutch cabin boy on the ship Batavia that is doomed to shipwreck and mutiny. Jan is eighteen at this time, but his simple innocence and trusting nature are exploited by the mutineers, and he becomes a co-conspirator, participating in the rape of the female passengers after the shipwreck - although he cannot bring himself to murder.
When those shipwrecked are at last rescued by their commander, who rowed the long boat to Jakarta (some 2000 kilometres), the mutineers are condemned to hang. And yet, for one reason or another, Jan and another co-conspirator, Wouter, are told they will not hang, and are instead marooned on the 'Great South Land' - Australia. This much of the story is factual, based on diaries kept by the Commander - and this much is recounted in the first half of the story.
It's in the second half of the story that the author has allowed her imagination to reign, and this has resulted in beautifully drawn interactions between Jan and the Aborigines, and a much more distinct sense of who Jan is as a person. To write from historical fact is naturally limiting, but Rosemary acquits herself well in interpreting and extrapolating and creating a real, sympathetic narrator. Her knowledge of the Aboriginal people's customs is obvious, and her interpretation real, and poignant.
Although the confronting scenes early on in the book and the distant third narration were initially unsettling, the warmth of the second section and the development of Jan as a character ensure that this is a book I'll read again.
Final conclusion:
A confronting look at a significant event in history, with deft interpretation and excellent character development - a great read.
This is one of those stories that grows on you after you close the covers, that plays in your thoughts and lingers. Based on an historical event in 1629 - the shipwreck of the Dutch vessel the Batavia - The Blue-Eyed Aborigine is a beautiful blend of fact and fiction.
The story is told in two parts, a first section in third person with a 'classical' children's story style, and a second section in first person, alternating between the points of view of the two men involved. Something I found somewhat paradoxical initially was that the first section, written in the more distant third person, was much more confronting and graphic than the second, gentler, first-person section. However, by the end of the story I was convinced by this narrative technique, and when I had the opportunity to discuss the book with the author last Thursday, she confirmed the motivations for using this technique - check out the interview for her response.
The Blue-Eyed Aborigine is, fundamentally, the story of Jan, a Dutch cabin boy on the ship Batavia that is doomed to shipwreck and mutiny. Jan is eighteen at this time, but his simple innocence and trusting nature are exploited by the mutineers, and he becomes a co-conspirator, participating in the rape of the female passengers after the shipwreck - although he cannot bring himself to murder.
When those shipwrecked are at last rescued by their commander, who rowed the long boat to Jakarta (some 2000 kilometres), the mutineers are condemned to hang. And yet, for one reason or another, Jan and another co-conspirator, Wouter, are told they will not hang, and are instead marooned on the 'Great South Land' - Australia. This much of the story is factual, based on diaries kept by the Commander - and this much is recounted in the first half of the story.
It's in the second half of the story that the author has allowed her imagination to reign, and this has resulted in beautifully drawn interactions between Jan and the Aborigines, and a much more distinct sense of who Jan is as a person. To write from historical fact is naturally limiting, but Rosemary acquits herself well in interpreting and extrapolating and creating a real, sympathetic narrator. Her knowledge of the Aboriginal people's customs is obvious, and her interpretation real, and poignant.
Although the confronting scenes early on in the book and the distant third narration were initially unsettling, the warmth of the second section and the development of Jan as a character ensure that this is a book I'll read again.
Final conclusion:
A confronting look at a significant event in history, with deft interpretation and excellent character development - a great read.
February 26, 2012
Written about the true story of the dutch ship Batavia sailing from Holland on her maiden voyage to Java (Jakarta) carrying priceless cargo to be traded for exotic and prized spices. It accounts the story of Jan a cabin boy and his harsh life aboard the Batavia and then later as a marooned member of the ship which hits a reef off the coast of Australia. The story recounts the murderous mutiny aboard the ship, the abandonment of the passengers on small islands by the captain and commander. The Second officer in charge goes on a tyrannical rampage which results the executions of innocents passengers (men, women and children).
Later the Commander returns to rescue the marooned passengers to find them all almost extinguished and starving. The mutinous crew is sentenced to hanging and other forms of punishment. Jan and a young mutineer are sentenced to be marooned for life on the shores of what is now known as Australia. They are to survive and learn about he native population now known as the indigenous Aboriginal people. Jan survives and ends up being married to a native girl and spend the rest of his life with them learning of their culture and spirituality. In the end his children (3 sons) have aboriginal and dutch features to include blue eyes. So goes the history of Euro-Aboriginal people.
The story is well written, and though you know horrible things are happening to the marooned passengers, the author spares the reader many details and it is left up to your imagination.
Many of the characters are real people from history. A good read.
Later the Commander returns to rescue the marooned passengers to find them all almost extinguished and starving. The mutinous crew is sentenced to hanging and other forms of punishment. Jan and a young mutineer are sentenced to be marooned for life on the shores of what is now known as Australia. They are to survive and learn about he native population now known as the indigenous Aboriginal people. Jan survives and ends up being married to a native girl and spend the rest of his life with them learning of their culture and spirituality. In the end his children (3 sons) have aboriginal and dutch features to include blue eyes. So goes the history of Euro-Aboriginal people.
The story is well written, and though you know horrible things are happening to the marooned passengers, the author spares the reader many details and it is left up to your imagination.
Many of the characters are real people from history. A good read.
July 21, 2010
Rather violent in parts.
I had reservations about this book.
The writing felt as if it were directed towards younger teenagers, 10 to 14 perhaps, but I thought the violence was a bit excessive for that age group, particularly girls. The murder of another cabin boy, committed by Jan, and the obliteration of an entire family, including a toddler, do not make for cheerful reading.
The main character is Jan, a young cabin boy from Holland, who is travelling on the Bratavia to Java. He'd always wanted to be a sailor but life as a cabin boy is much harder than expected. He is easily swayed by the smallest bit of friendship shown and ends up following the sadistic Corneliez when disaster strikes and everyone takes sides.
As punishment for the crimes he commits he is put ashore on the coast of Australia and left with Wouter, a sailor, to fend for themselves.
All this is based on historical fact - just as well or I'd have thought it a bit far-fetched :) The historical note at the end of the book explains many of the events and comments on the Dutch features that are to be found amongst Aboriginal people.
Many YA books successfully make the cross-over into adult literature but this was a bit too simplistic.
An interesting subject though and I certainly learnt things about the blood line of the Aborigines of Australia that I hadn't previously known.
I'd have liked to give 3 1/2 stars but unfortunately that's not possible on goodReads.
I had reservations about this book.
The writing felt as if it were directed towards younger teenagers, 10 to 14 perhaps, but I thought the violence was a bit excessive for that age group, particularly girls. The murder of another cabin boy, committed by Jan, and the obliteration of an entire family, including a toddler, do not make for cheerful reading.
The main character is Jan, a young cabin boy from Holland, who is travelling on the Bratavia to Java. He'd always wanted to be a sailor but life as a cabin boy is much harder than expected. He is easily swayed by the smallest bit of friendship shown and ends up following the sadistic Corneliez when disaster strikes and everyone takes sides.
As punishment for the crimes he commits he is put ashore on the coast of Australia and left with Wouter, a sailor, to fend for themselves.
All this is based on historical fact - just as well or I'd have thought it a bit far-fetched :) The historical note at the end of the book explains many of the events and comments on the Dutch features that are to be found amongst Aboriginal people.
Many YA books successfully make the cross-over into adult literature but this was a bit too simplistic.
An interesting subject though and I certainly learnt things about the blood line of the Aborigines of Australia that I hadn't previously known.
I'd have liked to give 3 1/2 stars but unfortunately that's not possible on goodReads.
November 9, 2014
A great book for young adults who like adventure based on true stories. It is split into two parts. I personaliy found the first part more intresting. People have said it is quite violent but I would say it is only mildly violent. In the first part it is from Jans perspective of being marrooned with the older sailers and soldiers. In the second it swaps between Jan and woulters opinions of hteir situations.
March 29, 2014
Part One really should have been replaced with a brief prologue, it's completely unnecessary and will probably turn many young readers off.
Part Two is much better writing, this could be the switch to a shifting first-person perspective, it works well. It's kind of like David Malouf's Remembering Babylon for a younger audience, exploring ideas of "going native" what is truly "savage."
Worthwhile if you can get past Part One!
Part Two is much better writing, this could be the switch to a shifting first-person perspective, it works well. It's kind of like David Malouf's Remembering Babylon for a younger audience, exploring ideas of "going native" what is truly "savage."
Worthwhile if you can get past Part One!
September 19, 2012
interesting subject but rather dry prose. may appeal to younger readers
November 7, 2013
Enjoyable YA novel based on the 1630 sinking of the Dutch trading ship 'Batavia' (an event chronicled in Mike Dash's excellent "Batavia's Graveyard").
Read
May 9, 2014An excellent book, and I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read about adventure.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews