Non-fiction is not my favorite genre but when I heard this author had a new novel, I just had to read it. The Wager is a well-researched and fascinating topic. Once the background history had been set up at the beginning of the book, the story really took off and kept me engrossed until the end.

A story from history set in 1740 about two groups of survivors from the same ship with very different tales to tell. The persistence and endurance of these men is amazing. Grann’s telling of the men's time at sea is extensively researched. His writing makes non-fiction read like fiction. If you are fond of survival stories, this is a great title for you.

No surprise that this book by David Grann is well-researched, well-written and absolutely riveting. Part one was a little slow going, but once the Wager set sail, I was hooked on this story.

I was behind on my non-fiction this year so I decided to try The Wager. I knew little about the story going in which made me completely enthralled. And I read it on a rocky beach which was appropriate!

This is the story of the Wager, one of several British vessels sent on a secret mission to capture a treasure-filled Spanish ship around 1740. However, after suffering from a less than perfect crew and immense illness aboard the ship, the Wager crashed in a storm on a desolate island near Patagonia. With little food and few supplies and battling continuous storms, the story of how the men handled this catastrophe and persevered is told. It is a story of loyalty and mutiny, moral and immoral, and what we, as humans, will do to survive. When all is said and done, It tells the conflicting stories of the surviving sailors in a court martial that the British would rather sweep under the rug.

I gave The Wager ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Reading like a novel but full of well researched facts, it was intriguing from the beginning. It is a story of human behavior in the worst of circumstances. We see good and bad in most of these men as we would see in ourselves. We also are shown the lengths kingdoms will go to for history to match its goals and make it look stronger even if it means erasing real events. It is a survival story that was almost lost to history and we are fortunate Grann wrote it down for us to remember in such a powerful way. A hard copy of this with its maps and pictures will be a permanent part of my library.

Thank you to @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

It should probably go without saying that humans are not at their best after a shipwreck, but this account feels especially damning in that regard, and the result is a book that is more depressing than entertaining.

Grann has done a respectable job of making this story read well and it has its exciting moments, but it’s mostly an account of a bunch of people reacting badly to a tragedy and behaving poorly as a result. That the publishers summary and promotional material for the book is fairly misleading as to the actual focus of the book is not the author’s fault, but it does leave the reader with a feeling of not getting the book that was advertised to them.

The wreck itself is certainly exciting, though the mutiny was decidedly less so, and all of the continued shifting allegiances among the crew felt more nasty than intriguing. And while I enjoy a good survivalist account, I didn’t need the gruesome details of marooned sailors killing and eating a pet dog.

Grann has done his best with the material available, but if you’re looking for adventure at sea and derring do, look elsewhere.

Like his stellar Killers of the Flower Moon, Grann deftly examines a true story from history--in this case the wreck of and mutiny aboard a British man-of-war called the HMS Wager. It's the 1740s and, while on a mission to capture a Spanish ship and its treasures, The Wager is grounded on a deserted island near Patagonia. After months of fighting, death, and starvation, the remaining crew builds a flimsy boat and ends up making it to Brazil, where they are praised as heroes. Yet mere months later, three crew (one being John Byron, Lord Bryon's grandfather) claiming to be from The Wager show up, saying that the first boat was manned by mutineers.

In Grann's capable hands this shocking drama becomes an examination of life at sea at that particular moment in history and the horrors of human nature. He weaves in commentary from crew journals (John Byron's story is especially intriguing), while also sharing the ins-and-out of life on a boat. Within the front-row drama, Grann also explores the monarchy, imperialism, and class differences. All together, these threads create one compelling story.

I will admit; it didn't hit as well with me as Killers did (I think because that story had more complexity and intrigue to it), but I still enjoyed this nonfiction read.

a little too heavy on the history/specifics this certainly read like non-fiction. I liked Killers of the Flower Moon much better, but this was a very interesting story.

4.5 Roughly two hundred and eighty days after The Wager shipwrecked, Grann pens the tale of.what happened and why. Using a narrative voice he used vivid descriptions about life at sea, a hard and dangerous life,often made more so by lack of men due to illness. The rough waters around Cape Horn created a life and death situation.Well researched Grann used a journal kept.by one of the men, as well as 18th century ship.logs, textbooks and lastly the court proceedings, themselves.

A drama of survival and betrayal and all of it, true. So few men returned and long after the ship.was deemed lost, and each had their own story to tell. Or rather their own interpretation. I found myself riveted to this book and found that I was reluctant to decide who was right or wrong. They all suffered terribly and were in a situation with few choices

Gann has become another non fiction author to which I look forward. His subjects are interestingly told in a story like manner. This audio was well done in a very dramatic, though I sometimes thought maybe a touch too dramatic, but a style that befitted the book.

Wow. I had high expectations given that this is a book by David Gran - a gifted writer and compelling storyteller. But this book so thoroughly exceeded those expectations. I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t tear myself away. I wish I still had more of it to read. I could heap praise all day, but it won’t do this narrative justice. I have already recommended this book to a dozen people and will continue evangelizing for quite a while.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

David Grann has done it again. Another exhaustively researched tale that's never less than exhilarating. His descriptions are so detailed you'll swear you remember being on this cursed voyage as well.

Another great page-turner from David Grann. Following up the success of Killers of the Flower Moon, Grann manages to bring the story of an 18th century shipwreck come to life. For fans of compelling, narrative non-fiction and thrillers alike.

A must not miss disaster and survival story set in the seas around South America. Fascinating and highly informative. See my full review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5319683422

I have a thing for doomed Arctic expeditions. Something about the ends of the world, the lack of modern technology, the extreme conditions — and the inability to expect rescue. It combines all of the aspects of an epic adventure with the myths and legends of seafaring. What’s not to love?

David Grann, noted for his eye-opening exploration in the The Killers of The Flower Moon, has tackled the complex, mutinous Antarctic voyage to round Cape Horn. Captain Anson brought The Wager and five other armed ships down the coast of South America, around the point between Chile and Antarctica, to attack the Spanish interests on the Pacific side of the continent. England and Spain never had a great relationship, but in 1740s tensions ratcheted up again after the War of Jenkins’ Ear (Yes, that’s a real thing). It was also the heyday of the British interests with the East India Company. The Admiralty had no problem flexing the muscle of their Navy.

In hindsight, their hubris was the main downfall of their mission. The area where the Atlantic meets the Pacific, roiled with the frigid Antarctic water, is treacherous on a calm day.

This funnel, known as the Drake Passage, makes the torrent even more pulverizing. The currents are not only the longest-running on earth but also the strongest, transporting more than four billion cubic feet of water per second, more than six hundred times the discharge of the Amazon River. And then there are the winds. Consistently whipping eastward, from eastward from the Pacific, where no lands obstruct them, they frequently accelerate to hurricane force, and can reach two hundred miles per hour. … Floating on some of these waves are lethal bergs cleaved from pack ice. And the collision of the cold front from the Antarctic and warm front from near the equator produce an endless cycle of rain and fog, sleet and snow, thunder and lightning. ~Loc. 887

Even the best sailors would be bedraggled when they emerged on the other side. Anson’s crew would not have an easy job of it. For weeks, they fought against the weather and currents to reach the other side of the straits. The opposing currents were so strong sometimes that they found they remained in the same place for weeks, despite their efforts.

Anson quickly realized the difficulty in making it through the passage, let alone within sight of one another, and he set up a rendezvous plan. Any ship making it through the straits would wait for the others for a set amount of time. After that, they would be assumed sunk. If only it would be that simple for the squadron.

What followed was months of multiple shipwrecks, survival, in-fighting, scurvy, insubordination, betrayal, murder and mutiny. Factions broke away, starting their own crews. Some stole rations or alcohol. Lieutenants struggled to keep control of their men, even as it dawned on them that rescue was not possible. If they were to return home, it would be up to them.

Author David Grann manages to make the complicated understandable in this complex tale of double- and triple-crosses. He also allows the actions of the men to speak for themselves. Though there are some conflicting accounts as members of the various factions begin to (unbelievably) limb into London, Grann allows those accounts to stand as presented and for readers to find their own opinion, as the British public would have done then. Unfortunately, some of the sense of adventure and danger is lost in the telling. The admirable adherence to the official narrative seems to prevent Grann from giving truly imaginative descriptions of what was endured.

My thanks to Doubleday for the review copy. Read via NetGalley.

Publisher: ‎Doubleday (April 18, 2023)
Language: ‎English
Hardcover: ‎352 pages
ISBN-10: ‎0385534264

When I read the synopsis, I was so excited to get my hands on The Wager! Reading more non-fiction is one of my reading goals this year and this will be my second non-fiction book of 2023. Non-fiction is not something I read often and I struggle to find titles that fit my reading interests. I feel like that is something I could share before I start my review.

Overall, The Wager was a hard for me to get through. The description of the book sounded interesting and I was curious to find out what happened on this ill-fated secret mission. I don't know much about navy ships, history, and more specifically the Royal navy. The beginning of the book was wonderful. It described how ships were built and all the preparations that go into a getting ready for a voyage. I learned new things about galleon ships and all the different roles that each crew member had in sailing such a boat. All of the details about the living conditions on the vessels were fascinating.

I would say that I have thalassophobia, a fear of deep water, and reading about the storms and rough conditions that the sailors went through scared me in a good way. I could only image the uncertainty and fear they felt trying to sail through such difficult conditions. Not to mention having a hard time navigating their course through treacherous waters.

Besides one AMAZING battle scene between two galleon ships, the rest of the book lost my interest. The politics of following (or not following) the chain of command slowed down the story for me. I wasn't really interested in the different groups or factions that were formed as the crew tried to figure out the best way to get back home. I skimmed through a good chunk of the middle of the book where this occurred. Their story of survival was interesting at first, but then it got repetitive with each setback that the sailors experienced.

Final thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, I struggle to read non-fiction books and my experience with The Wager is mostly likely affected by my reading preferences. There are many positive reviews of The Wager on NetGalley. I'm happy that I learned new things about a topic that I knew little about and that I tried something different. but in the end, this book just wasn't for me.

It was so hard to put this book down! It was riveting and exciting. I love that this story from history is told from a fresh perspective that it tries to remain true to what actually happened. It offers insight into why different narratives regarding the wager exist, and why they would have been manipulated for the profit or good of those telling the narrative.

I loved this book of adventure on the high seas, shipwrecks, castaways, and salvation. As he always does, Grann tells a thrilling tale that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. I went in not knowing anything of the true history, but I left with a deep appreciation for what the sailors on The Wager went through. Grann's offbeat and interesting facts about life at sea, and even the origins of some words was a bonus. Selling books in a seaside community, this is a no brainer to hand sell.

David Grann, the bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon, is back with a savage tale of survival and murder on the open seas! It’s 1742 and 30 sailors, starving and dehydrated, wash up on the coast of Brazil. They say their ship wrecked on a desolate island and they barely made it back to the mainland alive. But is that the whole story? When more sailors arrive on a raft in Chile, they tell a much darker story. Through accusations of murder, mutiny, and anarchy, the court must decide who is innocent and who is guilty. Most importantly, who will be hanged?

I'm not much of a historian, nor am I a seafarer, but I genuinely enjoyed "The Wager" more than I thought I would. David Grann is a great storyteller and manages to combine decades of tedious log books, ship descriptions, and geographical discussions into an enthralling narrative. At points, "The Wager" reads like a true crime novel! I'd recommend this book to any fan of true crime, non-fiction, or just a good classic sea voyage.

David Grann's newest book takes a look at the British vessel, the Wager, and the trajectory of its crew. The Wager set off in 1740 from England as part of a fleet aimed at overtaking a Spanish galleon. However, in its pursuit it ended up shipwrecked on an island off Patagonia and the marooned crew scavenged what was left of their ship and tried to survive. After barely surviving for months on the desolate island, the remaining crew split into two groups, one trying to go back to England and the other to try and rendezvous with the rest of the British fleet. When the first group landed in Brazil, they were hailed as heroes, but when the second group landed in Chile months later, they branded the first group as mutineers and traitors. Eventually both groups finally ended up back in England where they used their ship logs and the press to try and re-frame their actions as just and honorable, which ultimately resulted in a navy trial to determine fault. Overall, a very well researched book told in Grann's usual engaging narrative style.

I generally love historical expedition books, but I love the narrative—very intimate and suspenseful. Also appreciate the emphasis re who had the most accurate and/or compelling narrative. Very topical in today’s world.

Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this new work by a favorite author David Grann. What a tale of survival! If I didn't know and respect Grann's reputation for meticulous research I would be inclined to say this simply can't be true. Shipwrecks, starvation, illness, shifting loyalties, betrayal and when the survivors finally reach home ... a trial! Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach but if you are brave enough you will not regret the time spent with the men of the Wager. Not sure I will be brave enough to watch the film planned by DiCaprio and Scorsese. Definitely read the book first.

David Grann has the gift of discovering the fascinating and unusual events in history and building them into compelling non-fiction. "The Lost City of Z" and "Killers of the Flower Moon" cemented his reputation, and how he offers "The Wager."

The Wager's name does not indicate anyone made a bet of this ragged ship, rather that it was named after an important person named Wager. Anyone putting money on His Majesty's Ship the Wager was making a very bad bet. Sent to seek out a Spanish treasure ship, it vanished from view, only to have some of its sailors appear on the Brazilian coast in 1742, telling a grim story.

Everything leading up to that moment had been pretty bad, as David Grann takes us through what it took to actually find enough sailors to man the ship (Captains would nab likely looking young fellows off the street, empty out old sailors' homes, and sometimes even put small children to work.) The voyages were years long, and common sailors were sent to perform deathly tasks without a second thought. Grann spends a lot of time scene-setting, necessary to create understanding for the tale he's about to unfurl.

Once the Wager gets rolling the story takes off like one of the many storms the Wager weathered. Grann writes some masterful descriptions of weather and danger at sea, especially as the Wager sails around perilous Cape Horn. The tale takes a lot of time to get rolling, but once it does "The Wager" is a worthy addition to David Grann's brilliant and exciting non-fiction.