To Die A Dry Death

The True Story of the Batavia shipwreck

by Greta van der Rol

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Pub Date Mar 05 2015 | Archive Date May 01 2015

Greta van der Rol

General Fiction (Adult) | History

Description

Surviving the shipwreck was the easy part

1629. Shipwrecked on an uncharted reef thirty miles off the coast of Australia, two hundred men, women and children scramble ashore on tiny, hostile islands. There is no fresh water and the only food is what they can salvage from the wreck, or harvest from the sea.

The ship’s officers set out in an open boat on a two-thousand-mile journey across uncharted ocean to seek help. But there's not enough food and water for everyone on the islands to last until a rescue ship arrives. One man will stop at nothing to ensure that he is among the survivors.

But adversity throws up heroes. Soon there's war between two groups, both determined to be there to greet that rescue ship when it arrives. If it arrives.

The true, terrifying story of the Batavia shipwreck. Contains graphic violence. First published in 2010 as "Die a Dry Death." This revised edition has new material.

Surviving the shipwreck was the easy part

1629. Shipwrecked on an uncharted reef thirty miles off the coast of Australia, two hundred men, women and children scramble ashore on tiny, hostile...

A Note From the Publisher

Greta van der Rol was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Perth, Western Australia, where she went to university to complete a BA(Hons) in history, in between spending time on Perth's wonderful beaches. With that background, it's hardly surprising that she developed an abiding, almost obsessive, interest in the Dutch wrecks along the Western Australian coast, dating back to the seventeenth and eighteenth century. She always promised herself that, one day, she'd write a story about one of those wrecks. The result was To Die a Dry Death.

When she isn't slaving over a hot computer, Greta takes photos, cooks, and generally enjoys life near the beach in Queensland.

Greta van der Rol was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Perth, Western Australia, where she went to university to complete a BA(Hons) in history, in between spending time on Perth's wonderful...

Advance Praise

"Utterly brilliant in every way. It's hard to believe any book could come closer to conveying the essence of this astonishing series of events. If ever there was a five star read, this is it." - Bill Kirton, Booksquawk.com

"I was pulled down into the story as inexorably as the Batavia herself was drawn down into the sea, and as the castaways of the shipwreck were drawn helplessly under the control of a frightening despot who emerged amongst them ... Brilliant writing and characterization." - Kimberly Menozzi, Fourth Person Obscured

"I planned to read this novel over the course of a week. Instead, I found myself staying up (far too) late and finished it in two nights. I found it nearly impossible to put down ... The pacing is fast, the characters believable, and I would almost certainly read it again. Highly recommended." - Spann of Time

"The most intriguing aspect of this story is how the author skillfully unravels one man's motives for gaining power through use of fear and examines to what lengths a person will go to preserve his own life. With such complex and deeply motivated characters, conflict abounds, creating a fast-paced and thrilling read ... Peppered throughout are exquisite details: of vivid seascapes, clothing, work implements, and nautical terminology. Readers who love to be immersed in a historical period will appreciate the precise research that has gone into this work; while those who enjoy an action-oriented and plot-driven story will be riveted." - Historical Novel Review No Advance Praise Available