The Wager A Tale Of Shipwreck Mutiny And Murder Summary
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Summary of The Wager by David Grann
A Complete Summary of the Wager David Grann's latest novel, "The Wager," is an extensively researched narrative that explores the dangers and acts of heroism within the British fleet during the 18th century. The British warship, "The Wager," is part of a fleet embarking on a mission to Cape Horn, chasing the Spanish with the goal of capturing a Spanish galleon filled with valuable treasures. This thrilling page-turner incorporates elements of a shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. One of the significant strengths of this book lies in its credibility. Grann takes meticulous care to cite numerous sources, ranging from the archives of the British Navy to novels penned by survivors of the calamity. The story vividly portrays the terrifying ordeal faced by the sailors as they struggle to survive in one of the world's most treacherous regions. Personally, the book's most captivating theme revolves around the effectiveness of warfare, encompassing its accompanying horrors and casualties. In David Grann's novel "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder," a gripping story unfolds, intertwining elements such as typhoons, scurvy, shipwrecks, mutiny, and even cannibalism. The book recounts the true events of the British naval frigate Wager, which sank near the Patagonian coast of Chile in 1741. Stranded on a barren island, the survivors descended into a state of homicidal anarchy. Years later, when some of the survivors returned to England, they faced a court-martial, each presenting conflicting accounts of what had transpired in an attempt to save themselves. Grann, the author of "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Lost City of Z," came across John Byron's first-hand account of the voyage. Byron, who was aboard the Wager as a midshipman at the age of sixteen, chronicled the harrowing journey. Grann delved into archives, examining logbooks, letters, notebooks, and court-martial papers, to uncover the truth of what truly happened. He even ventured to the island in the Gulf of Sorrows to gain a deeper understanding of the castaways' experiences. The novel introduces David Cheap, a British navy officer, who achieved his dream of becoming a sea lord when he was made captain of the Wager but faced a shipwreck soon after. The prologue sets the stage for rebellion, survival, and dispute, unfolding during the imperial battle between Spain and England in 1740. It depicts the castaways' journey in a makeshift boat, enduring treacherous storms and hardships, with many losing their lives along the way. The survivors, upon reaching Brazil, made a startling accusation against their companions who had returned to England earlier. They claimed mutiny, challenging the perception that they were heroes. The subsequent discussions and accusations revealed the desperate fight for survival on the island, where the officers and crew struggled against famine and freezing conditions, attempting to establish order. Amidst these challenges, there were instances of murder, marauding groups, and acts of cannibalism. Grann's meticulously researched account sheds light on the dark and haunting experiences of the Wager's crew. The narrative examines the human condition in extreme circumstances and raises questions about the nature of survival and the blurred lines between heroism and desperation. The stage is set for a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the events that unfolded during the ill-fated journey of the British frigate Wager. to be continued..
The Wager
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER *LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* 'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I’ve ever read' Guardian ‘The greatest sea story ever told’ Spectator 'I cannot think of anyone who would not love this book . . . It is an extraordinary true story, beautifully written' Richard Osman ‘A cracking yarn… Grann’s taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here’ Observer From the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth. On 28th January 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 chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes. Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. 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.
Dead in the Water
Author: Matthew Campbell
language: en
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Release Date: 2022-05-03
Shortlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award “A triumph of investigative journalism.” —Tom Wright, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Billion Dollar Whale "Truly one of the most nail-biting, page-turning, terrifying true-crime books I've ever read." —Nick Bilton, New York Times bestselling author of American Kingpin From award-winning journalists Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel, the gripping, true-crime story of a notorious maritime hijacking at the heart of a massive conspiracy—and the unsolved murder that threatened to unravel it all. In July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was drifting through the treacherous Gulf of Aden when a crew of pirates attacked and set her ablaze in a devastating explosion. But when David Mockett, a maritime surveyor working for Lloyd’s of London, inspected the damaged vessel, he was left with more questions than answers. How had the pirates gotten aboard so easily? And if they wanted to steal the ship and bargain for its return, then why did they destroy it? The questions didn’t add up—and Mockett would never answer them. Soon after his inspection, David Mockett was murdered. Dead in the Water is a shocking expose of the criminal inner workings of international shipping, told through the lens of the Brillante hijacking and its aftermath. Through first-hand accounts of those who lived it—from members of the ship’s crew and witnesses to the attacks, to the ex-London detectives turned private investigators seeking to solve Mockett’s murder and bring justice to his family—award-winning Bloomberg reporters Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel piece together the astounding truth behind one of the most brazen financial frauds in history. The ambitious culmination of more than four years of reporting, Dead in the Water uncovers an intricate web of conspiracy amidst the lawless, old-world industry at the backbone of our new global economy.