The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

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(as of Apr 08, 2024 11:23:22 UTC – Details)

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the talented author of Killers of the Flower Moon, comes a gripping tale of shipwreck, survival, and betrayal, culminating in a shocking court-martial that exposes the truth. The narrative delves deep into the events on the Wager, revealing that it wasn’t just the captain and crew on trial, but the very essence of empire itself.

A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, TIME, Smithsonian, NPR, Vulture, Kirkus Reviews

“Riveting…Reads like a thriller, tackling a multilayered history—and imperialism—with gusto.”—Time

“A tour de force of narrative nonfiction.”—The Wall Street Journal

On January 28, 1742, a battered ship washes ashore on the Brazilian coast. Thirty starving men stagger out, survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, on a mission during an imperial war with Spain. After months of being stranded and facing death, they build a flimsy vessel and embark on a harrowing journey of survival, overcoming nearly insurmountable odds.

But their tale takes a dark turn when another ship, carrying only three castaways, lands in Chile six months later. These men claim the survivors from Brazil were mutineers, sparking a contentious court martial to uncover the truth. Accusations of treachery and murder fly, revealing the chaos and anarchy that had consumed the crew on the desolate island. The Admiralty’s verdict will determine who lives and who dies.

The Wager is a riveting exploration of human behavior under extreme conditions, expertly recounted by a master storyteller. Grann’s vivid depiction of life on a British warship rivals the best in maritime literature, while his portrayal of the castaways’ struggles echoes the timeless themes of survival narratives like The Endurance. The court-martial proceedings are portrayed with the suspense of a legal thriller, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout.

FAQ:
– Who was the author of Killers of the Flower Moon? David Grann
– Where did the shipwreck survivors land in Brazil? The coast of Brazil
– What was the secret mission of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager? Chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon
– What classic survival narrative is The Wager compared to? The Endurance
– How many men in total survived the shipwreck on the Wager? Thirty