When I first saw the book at Barnes & Noble, I thought it was fiction, but when I read the back and realized the stories within were true, I wanted to read it even more. There was something intriguing, mysterious, and compelling about this shipwreck tale, and I was excited to dig into the real-world adventure it held.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann delivers a detailed, intense narrative of survival. On a mission to capture the spoils from a Spanish galleon, a fleet of ships sets sail in 1740 and must traverse the dangerous and deadly waters of the Drake Passage. The Passage resides between the southernmost tip of South America and Antarctica, making it – even today – a treacherous journey.
Needless to say, all doesn’t go well, and the Wager is taken off course, crashes against the rocks, and the crew finds themselves marooned on a desolate island with scarce resources, harsh weather, and earthquakes.
And that’s the least of their problems.
David Grann presents a colorful array of men who were on the fateful journey, each one with their own wants, needs, desires, and ambitions as the fleet leaves England. But as the journey takes a tragic turn and the prospect of wealth turns into a quest for survival, the rules and regulations they were sworn to on the ship soon deteriorate on land, and loyalty and sanity are tested.
What results is a compelling story with myriad perspectives that coalesce into contradictions, ulterior motives, and accusations, leading everyone involved to make choices that invite accusations of mutiny.
Grann’s examination of the facts and stories from the men who experienced these events places the reader in the minds and boots of those who survived. It’s fascinating to hear their stories and what they went through in order to make it home, and the timelines presented are mind-blowing, given the scant resources everyone had by the end of each experience.
Plus, readers will discover maritime vernacular that’s used today in colloquial parlance, like “under the weather,” “toe the line,” “pipe down,” “piping hot,” scuttlebutt,” “three sheets to the wind,” and “turn a blind eye.” It’s fascinating to see what the original meanings of these phrases were and how they’ve evolved into part of everyday modern speech.
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder is a fast-paced and excellent read that keeps you coming back to see what happens next and who makes it off the island alive. If you’re interested in world history or early exploration, I highly recommend The Wager.