The Wager

Bookseller recommendation

“David Grann's The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder is the shocking true story of the wreck of the ship, the Wager, and how that crew survived, separated from their home country for years. The lengths that these castaways were pushed to is shocking, and makes for a captivating story of adventure and survival. A shocking story from David Grann, and captivating narration from Dion Graham.”

— Maxwell • Paragraphs Bookstore

Bookseller recommendation

“I loved this nautical true story of mutiny on the high seas. The men lived by such a strict code. What is to be done when the captain loses the confidence and respect of some of his crew? In a culture and atmosphere where your rank determines whether your account of events is to be read, let alone believed, it makes for a very interesting page-turner. Grann never disappoints. He brings a similar level of intrigue to this story, that was present in Killers of the Flower Moon. GOOD GOOD GOOD!! I listened via Libro.fm and found it to be highly entertaining.”

— Kathy • The Well-Read Moose

Bookseller recommendation

“I loved this nautical true story of mutiny on the high seas. The men lived by such a strict code. What IS to be done when the captain loses the confidence and respect of some of his crew? In a culture and atmosphere where your RANK determines whether your account of events is to be read, let alone believed, it makes for a very interesting page-turner. Grann never disappoints. He brings a similar level of intrigue to this story, that was present in Killers of the Flower Moon. GOOD GOOD GOOD!!I listened to a free copy via Libro.fm and found it to be highly entertaining.”

— Kathy • The Well-Read Moose

Bookseller recommendation

“Gripping and thrilling, this story dives into the making of a mutinous voyage that inspired adventurers and authors for centuries to follow. Spanning the course of several decades, Grann's ability to blend handwritten accounts and perspectives of a handful of men in order to paint a complete picture of a historical shipwreck & the ensuing mutiny is unparalleled. When circumstances become dire, at what point does the captain's authority no longer hold water? When does the strength of the empire that upholds law and order begin to weaken? The moral quandaries that are brought to light during such a survival situation come out in full force in this book, and I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in a page-turning account of a tragic non-fiction adventure. ”

— Kaitlyn • Honest Dog Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Few authors are able to write nonfiction history that reads like a page turning adventure novel, but David Grann is one of them. The gripping story of The Wager’s shipwreck and the survivors’ divergent tales of the events that followed kept me on the edge of my seat as I devoured this book. Martin Scorsese has already acquired the film rights. ”

— Josh • Underground Books

Bookseller recommendation

“An absorbing non-fiction nautical shipwreck thriller, this is the story of the ill-fated journey of The Wager in 1740-41 as it attempts to to sail round Cape Horn, the treacherous tip of South America. The hardships seem unreal: starvation, illness (scurvy, typhus), death, but also murder and a mutinous crew, never mind the truly wild weather and being ship-wrecked and marooned on a deserted island. A fantastic adventure story for all! ”

— Anne • Newtonville Books

Bookseller recommendation

“If, like me, your idea of fun is reading stories of others going through almost unfathomable hardship, you can hardly do better than David Grann (the expert nonfiction yarnspinner behind Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z) and the horror-filled tale of the Wager, a British warship sent to attack Spanish treasure ships on the far side of South America. First typhus, then scurvy, then a shipwreck while rounding Cape Horn, which in turn led to murder, cannibalism, mutiny, and—with the help of multiple groups of indigenous locals—the ultimate return to England of a tiny fraction of those who began the voyage. From those survivors' contradictory accounts of misery, betrayal, and survival, Grann has woven a rousing story that doubles as cautionary tale of the folly of imperialism.”

— Tom • Phinney Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Since a lot of the book is drawn from actual sailor's diaries, listening to it feels like you're hearing a salty sea dog's confessional! Apart from that it's got everything you'd want in a swashbuckling adventure: mutiny, shipwreck, scurvy and colonialist criticism. ”

— Jordan • Magers & Quinn Booksellers

Bookseller recommendation

“How has this story been kept under wraps for so long? It plays like a novel with vivid characters and escalating tension. Fans of Erik Larson or Patrick O'Brian will love this equally. ”

— Kevin • Narberth Bookshop