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A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder
by David Grann
Book Reviewed by:Winner: BookBrowse Nonfiction Award 2023
From the #1 New York Times bestselling 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.
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.
Chapter 1
The First Lieutenant
Each man in the squadron carried, along with a sea chest, his own burdensome story. Perhaps it was of a scorned love, or a secret prison conviction, or a pregnant wife left on shore weeping. Perhaps it was a hunger for fame and fortune, or a dread of death. David Cheap, the first lieutenant of the Centurion, the squadron's flagship, was no different. A burly Scotsman in his early forties with a protracted nose and intense eyes, he was in flight—from squabbles with his brother over their inheritance, from creditors chasing him, from debts that made it impossible for him to find a suitable bride. Onshore, Cheap seemed doomed, unable to navigate past life's unexpected shoals. Yet as he perched on the quarterdeck of a British man-of-war, cruising the vast oceans with a cocked hat and spyglass, he brimmed with confidence—even, some would say, a touch of haughtiness. The wooden world of a ship—a world bound by the Navy's rigid regulations and ...
Name three nonfiction books you absolutely loved and would recommend
I loved a lot of others already listed, so looked for a few that maybe hadn't been mentioned (as much). The Wager by David Grann Nexus by Yuval Harari You Are Not American by Amanda Frost
-AsheS
To crew ships, the Admiralty relied on the process of “pressing” men into service. What did you think of this process? Was there any advantage to it?
The description of "pressing" right at the beginning of the book reminded me of slavery (though the seamen were paid). I get that the navy needed manpower, and that at the time there wasn't an equivalent to a draft (other than pressing). I get that there wouldn't be sufficient volunteers, and tha...
-Julia_A
Did you know about the wreck and mutiny of The Wager before reading the book?
No, this was my first encounter with the history of The Wager. I was attracted to request the book because I knew nothing of the story and because I admire Grann as a writer.
-Julia_A
Grann is the author of several non-fiction books (The Lost City of Z and Killers of the Flower Moon among them). Have you read any of his previous works, and if so, how do they compare to The Wager?
I read Killers of the Flower Moon. Comparing the two, I would have to say I enjoyed Killers more. Perhaps it's because I was more interested in the topic, but it could have been because I found the first chapters of The Wager so slow going that I almost gave up. I appreciate Grann's attention to ...
-Julia_A
Is there a quote or scene that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
I agree with AnnH - If only the captain… What arrogance to think that he was the only one who could make a decision about his life while at sea, and all the lives of the men who depended on him. How many men have died over the years due to that kind of arrogance and pride. While that sentiment ha...
-Cathy_T
What did you think of the level of responsibility required for a captain? Is it achievable? Did Cheap live up to the demands of his profession, either before or after the wreck? Do you know of other professions that require so much accountability?
Being captain is an extremely responsible position. If you are a boss in a company, but don't own it, you are held accountable for your and your underlings mistakes. But as captain of a ship, you may be responsible for the death/s of your underlings. How frightening that much be. Especially if yo...
-Cathy_T
Overall, what did you think of The Wager? (no spoilers, please!)
I enjoyed this book. I have read about Shakleton and another that escapes me at the moment and have been intrigued by the lives of men on board those ships. The Wager lived up to my expectations, but I do agree that the ending came fast and furious. However, the book was about the journey rather ...
-Cathy_T
The crew blamed the captain “for their misery and wondered what he was doing to rescue them.” Do you think they were right to do so? Is there anything Captain Cheap could have done to improve their situation?
It is easy to blame the captain, but in this instance the storm was too much for a lot of captains. Cheap had his problems and should have paid more attention to his men. He tried to do it all on his own. I would, indeed, put blame on Cheap, but not all of it. Nature had a heavy hand in this disa...
-Cathy_T
What was the attraction in going to sea for the men who chose to do so? Would you have been tempted, in similar circumstances? Have you ever spent an extended period of time on a boat or ship?
Adventure, see the world, riches, and excitement. Also, some men would go to sea to get away from the law, wives, enemies. I would not go to sea in those ships, I have been on cruises for a week at a time, but that has nothing in common with ships in the time frame discussed.
-Cathy_T
What aspects of life in the British Navy were familiar to you before reading the book? Did you learn anything new, or did anything surprise you?
I learned so much about Brittania ruling the world because of its domination of its seafaring abilities. Another case of geography creating a country's destiny. It has access that landlocked counties did not possess. I had no idea that children served at such a young age.
-Peggy_Anselmo
What audience would you recommend The Wager to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
Our book club just read The Ministry of Time. One of the main characters was Graham Gore an officer on one of the ships trying to find the Northwest Passage. This disaster occurred 100 years later in British Naval history. These two books highlighted why Great Britain ruled the world at one time ...
-Peggy_Anselmo
In what ways, in your opinion, did the crew’s interactions with the indigenous peoples help or hurt their ability to survive?
I think it really helped them to learn how to better sustain themselves off the land. When those few started acting up, Cheap should've immediately put a stop to them and imprisoned them - they ruined it for everyone with their misbehavior. I was hopeful when the indigenous people showed up and s...
-Marijana_Bankovic
Cheap believed that to keep the castaways from turning on each other, that they needed rules and a rigid structure, and he consequently tried to adhere to the Articles of War. What do you think of his approach to the situation?
I think he should've done it from the getgo - asserted his authority as the ship's captain from the moment the disaster struck. I understand he was ill at the time, but he's still in charge - if he was too sick to lead, he should've appointed a temporary person in charge, someone whom he trusted ...
-Marijana_Bankovic
Some of the crew stole rations, and Cheap had them whipped and then abandoned, but some of the crew thought this punishment too lenient. What are your thoughts on this scene? Do you think that under the circumstances the punishment was just?
I was horrified by the depiction of how brutal the punishments actually were, but given the circumstances and how dire their situation was at that time, and with no end in sight, I'm surprised he hasn't punished them sooner and I agreed with the rest of the crew that the punishment should've been...
-Marijana_Bankovic
In the introduction, David Grann writes that he “tried to present all sides, leaving it to you to render the ultimate verdict.” How did this note affect your approach to the book, if at all? Do you think he succeeded in his aim?
So far he's done an excellent job in presenting facts from the available accounts and from different points of view.
-Marijana_Bankovic
Are any of the individuals in the book reliable narrators?
No. They all had their own agendas. All shared agenda of not getting court martialed and hanged.
-Susan_Nora
What book or books are you reading this week? (02/06/2025)
Blob - Maggie Su Eddie Winston is looking for love - Marianne Cronin The wager - David Grann The lotus shoes - Jane Yang Bulfinch's mythology - Thomas Bulfinch The divine comedy - Dante Alighieri
-Marijana_Bankovic
Do you think the wreck of The Wager and its aftermath were in any way avoidable?
I'm not sure. With Cheap feeling so strongly that he had to follow Anson, there was no turning back.
-Helen_B
How did you feel about the outcome of the court martial? What did you think about the admirals’ approach to the trial, and why do you believe they chose the course of action they did?
Sadly, it reminded me of what happens today in government. They had the court martial to say they had it, but then did what they needed to save face. I also was torn, because I felt like the crew and Captain had gone through such a horrible experience, how does one judge or know how one will react?
-Helen_B
Bulkley wanted to sail up South America’s west coast, while Cheap wanted to stick with his original orders and travel along the east coast. Whose plan do you think stood a better chance of success? Which group do you think you would have joined?
Bulkeley's plan seemed the most sane one. However, Cheap was "hell-bent" in making the rendezvous with Admiral Anson according to the pre-planned schedule. He ignored recommendations from Bulkeley. I definitely would have chosen Bulkeley's group. Bulkeley knew about the sea and the condition of t...
-Ann_H
Which individual did you ultimately have the most sympathy for? Who did you end up having the least sympathy for? Did the actions of any of the officers or crew make you angry, and if so, which?
I had the most sympathy for Byron. I think he went to sea due to his lack of options. He had "few means to earn a respectable living". Throughout the book he showed a willingness to learn the tasks of the ship and even tried to working as a problem solver when the Wager wrecked. It is an easy cho...
-Ann_H
The author writes that as accounts proliferated in the press, “perceptions of the Wager affair varied from reader to reader.” What was your final take on the affair? Did you believe any one person's account more than another?
Not really. I was not a fan of Cheap and the way he conducted himself. His views of the conflict were certainly shaded by his egotistical view of himself. In my opinion, he caused the disrespect of the men towards him. He was my least favorite character in the book.
-Ann_H
How did the political climate impact the voyage and the crew's time as castaways?
This was a time when European countries were racing to the "new world" in hopes of riches and being considered successful in establishing new trade routes as well as new lands. Sailors were hoping to share in the "spoils" due to conquering heroes.
-Ann_H
Admiral Anson’s men loved him, while Cheap’s men generally despised their captain. What qualities did each have that impacted their crews? What do you think inspires people to loyalty?
Cheap was known for being "volatile and moody" and wanting to be in charge, He saw himself as a "knight-errant of the sea". None of these characteristics endeared him to those in his command. Anson, on the other hand, "had a mastery of himself" - cool and steady under duress. He was said to be si...
-Ann_H
About the The Wager by David Grann Discussion category
Please join us in our book club discussion of The Wager by David Grann. You can answer any of the posted questions, or create a new topic if you have your own question you'd like to discuss.
-nick
Book Suggestions - Ones I LOVED
Non-fiction favs in no particular order: Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA (Liza Mundy, History) The Six - The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts (Loren Grush, History, Science) The Library Book (Susan Orlean, True Crime) The Art Thief (Micheal Finkel, True Crime) K...
-Gabi_J
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BookBrowse Awards
2023
Winner: BookBrowse Nonfiction Award 2023
I found this book to be well-researched, well-written and extremely easy to read. It was actually quite a thrilling read to be honest. It felt more like I was reading an adventure book than a nonfiction book (Tara T). Although the subject matter was not of great interest to me when I started reading the book, my opinion quickly changed when more of the narrative was developed. The author takes a maritime scandal and engulfs the reader in a suspenseful historical thriller! (Dan W). It's a riveting, page-turning adventure, complete with shipwreck, mutiny and murder (Lois K)...continued
Full Review
(651 words)
(Reviewed by First Impressions Reviewers).
David Grann's The Wager is a nonfiction book about events surrounding the 1741 wreck of the British ship the HMS Wager, which met its doom while rounding Cape Horn, a rocky headland at the southernmost tip of the Chilean archipelago Tierra del Fuego, where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans meet. With this book, Grann sheds light on one relatively little-known historical incident, but Cape Horn is infamous for shipwrecks. Its treacherous waters are estimated to have claimed more than 800 ships and 10,000 lives.
So why exactly is rounding Cape Horn so dangerous? One reason for this is a sharp rise in the ocean floor that occurs southwest of the cape. This rise, combined with strong winds caused by the area's southerly latitude (where...
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