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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, a page-turning story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. The powerful narrative reveals the deeper meaning of the events on The Wager, showing that it was not only the captain and crew who ended up on trial, but the very idea of empire.

“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 ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.

But then … six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.

The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers. Grann’s recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O’Brian, his portrayal of the castaways’ desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. As always with Grann’s work, the incredible twists of the narrative hold the reader spellbound.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday; First Edition (April 18, 2023)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385534264
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385534260
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.42 x 1.29 x 9.59 inches

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

Introduction

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder is a captivating story that unfolded in the 18th century. This gripping account showcases the struggles faced by the crew of the ship Wager, their fight for survival after a shipwreck, and the horrifying turn of events that followed. As the name suggests, the tale is filled with mutiny and murder, making it an extraordinary narrative that has intrigued readers for centuries.

The Shipwreck

In 1741, the HMS Wager, an English warship, embarked on a perilous journey to the Pacific coast of South America. While attempting to navigate treacherous waters around Cape Horn, the ship was hit by a violent storm that ultimately led to its wrecking off the coast of Chile. Most of the crew members managed to survive the initial disaster, but their struggle for survival was only beginning.

Mutiny and Separation

Following the shipwreck, the crew of the Wager found themselves stranded on inhospitable and unfamiliar terrain. The harsh conditions and lack of provisions gave rise to dissension among the crew members. A group of officers, led by Lieutenant John Bulkeley and Midshipman Robert FitzRoy, decided to seize control and set sail in a makeshift vessel with the hope of reaching safety and finding help. This act of mutiny caused a further divide among the already desperate crew and marked the beginning of a terrifying ordeal for those left behind.

The Fight for Survival

Left to fend for themselves, the remaining crew members faced unimaginable hardships. Relying on their resourcefulness, they built a small boat to navigate the treacherous waters and attempted to reach civilization. However, their efforts were in vain, and the crew found themselves on a desolate island, further adding to their desperate situation.

Isolated and lacking basic necessities, the crew resorted to extreme measures to survive. They endured hunger, sickness, and cruel weather conditions. The will to survive pushed them to their limits, and in the process, the bonds of camaraderie shattered.

Dark Turn of Events

As desperation grew, conflicts escalated, and a sinister turn of events unfolded. The crew turned against one another, and acts of violence and murder tainted the island. The limited resources and isolation meant there was no escape from the horrors unfolding.

The Final Rescue

Months later, the remaining crew members were rescued by a Spanish ship, but by then, only a fraction of the original crew had survived. Their stories of mutiny, shipwreck, and murder fascinated the world, and the incident became widely known as the Wager Mutiny. Survivors were criticized and questioned for their actions during the ordeal, and the tragic tale left a lasting impact on their lives.

Conclusion

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder is a tragic and enthralling story that portrays the depths to which human nature can sink when faced with extreme circumstances. It showcases the resilience and fortitude of the human spirit, as well as the darker aspects that emerge when pushed to the brink.

FAQ

Q: When did the shipwreck occur?

The shipwreck occurred in 1741.

Q: Who led the mutiny?

Lieutenant John Bulkeley and Midshipman Robert FitzRoy led the mutiny.

Q: How were the survivors rescued?

The survivors were rescued months later by a Spanish ship.

Q: What impact did the incident have on the survivors?

The incident left a lasting impact on the survivors’ lives, and they were questioned and criticized for their actions during the ordeal.

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