The Wager

A "TOUR DE FORCE OF NARRATIVE NONFICTION" (WSJ) WITH OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NYT BEST SELLER LIST. From the author of Killers of the Flower Moon, this page-turning story of shipwreck, survival, and savagery culminates in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. The powerful narrative conveys deeper meanings behind the events surrounding 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 washed up on the coast of Brazil carrying thirty emaciated men who had an extraordinary tale. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, which had embarked on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain but wrecked on a desolate island. After months of hardship, they built a flimsy craft and sailed for over a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles. - However, another decrepit craft later landed in Chile, revealing that the first group's claims of heroism were countered by accusations of mutiny and tyranny. The ensuing court martial determined life-and-death stakes, as those found guilty could hang. The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers.