Released: 18th April 2023
Genre: Non-Fiction, War, Historical
Number of Pages: 257 (excluding bibliography)
Best known for his work on Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann’s latest release delves into a major incident of shipwreck, mutiny and murder. The Wager takes place in the 1700s during a war of imperial rivalries.
We’re introduced to the titular ship, its large crew and their mission to disrupt Spanish interests around South America (Then known as Patagonia). After getting separated from other vessels in their fleet, The Wager runs aground on an island off the coast of Chile and a desperate struggle for survival begins. As a piece of non-fiction, the bibliography is enormous with Grann drawing from a ton of sources to tell this real-life story with a set of dramatized elements and historical documents.
The greatest strength of The Wager is how it immerses the reader into 18th Century sailing. Despite being the pinnacle of naval technology, living on a sixth-rate warship was incredibly gruelling. Endless storms, rampant disease, the spoiling of supplies and the possibility of being stranded miles from home were all persistent dangers. Yet as things go from bad to worse, the author also shows how tenacious these men had to be, foraging for food and making the most of limited resources.
With that said, David can only go so far when it comes to characterisation and does take some liberties with their personalities. The three leads are Captain David Cheap, a gunner named John Bulkeley and the young John Byron who went to sea at age 16. These are the main perspectives we follow, but you shouldn’t expect too much depth as the finer details have been lost to history.
Recommended?
YES: With a unique blend of drama and history, David Grann shares the tale of The Wager and its doomed journey with great detail. The book pulls us into the lives of the sailors, emphasising how dangerous navel exploration was and also explores the conflicting accounts of the survivors. Some of the characterisation is quite limited, but this is a comprehensive release that will appeal to any follower of history.
(Following on from Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Dicaprio have now acquired the rights to adapt The Wager. A feature film is likely to arrive in the future)
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