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Overview
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder is by David Grann, writer for The New Yorker and bestselling nonfiction author
. Released to critical praise and strong sales in 2023, The Wager tells the story of the Wager, a British warship that wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of South America in 1741 while on a secret mission during an imperialist war between Great Britain and Spain. In the aftermath, the castaways struggle to survive in a battle against the elements and each other before emerging back in England with wildly differing stories about the shipwreck’s causes and what occurred on land afterwards. One story depicts the captain of the Wager, David Cheap, as the victim of an unwarranted mutiny led by the ship’s gunner while another contends that the gunner, John Bulkeley, acted properly in response to Cheap’s manifest unfitness as a leader at sea and on land.In The Wager, Grann skillfully explores topics including the nature of leadership, the brutality and absurdity of empire, and—perhaps most profoundly—the important role that stories play in shaping history.
Read the full book summary & analysis, a discussion of the main ideas, and key questions & answers about The Wager.
