Reviews with content warning for Slavery - The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

"The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" was riveting. It is non-fiction but reads like a historical fiction thriller. The author's extensive research is evident, but serves to enhance the story rather than bog it down. Much of the story is taken directly from the actual journals of the men who were a part of the ill-fated expedition. Dion Graham is an excellent narrator, weaving together this mesmerizing story with his expressive voice. His pacing is excellent, adding urgency and suspense to an already dramatic story. Author David Grann is best known for "Killers of the Flower Moon" (*now a major motion picture*) which I read about 1 1/2 years ago. I liked "The Wager" even more than "Flower Moon". I listened to it every free moment I had. It definitely "un-romanticizes" life on the high seas, but that's part of why it's so good - it vividly portrays the gritty, unadulterated, harrowing reality of the experience.

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chrschn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

4.25

Extremely well researched and as captivating as any fictional naval adventure. Plenty of seafaring adventures to be had, as well as some incredible human endurance, which I’m not typically interested in reading about but was amazed by here.

Flew through this one, Grann is a very gifted author, telling the events so as to be informative but compelling. The events are thorough in their retelling, but without becoming a tedious logbook of what transpired. The two main “factions” for lack of a better word are both represented fairly and the events are not sensationalized, though he notes that other accounts have done so in order to paint the Admiralty in a more impressive light. Grann is rightfully critical of imperialism without the writing redirecting focus away from the crew of the Wager. Part of me wishes this was explored a bit further, but Grann trusts the reader to be able to put two and two together.

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maryclaire92's review against another edition

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adventurous informative tense fast-paced

4.25

A harrowing account of the misadventures of the HMS Wager and its unlucky crew. This book kept my attention and I tore through the back half of it. Grann compiles the subject matter into a gripping narrative that seems genuine and representative of the historical documents available on the subject.

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afterplague's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging slow-paced

3.5

The Wager is a fascinating true(ish) tale of the HMS Wager's journey and subsequent wreck around the tip of South America. I find Grann's version of events to be believable, interesting, and backed by a huge amount of research and notation.
My main issue with this book is simply how long it took to get started. There was so much interesting information, but there was also so much information that was not necessary at all. At times it felt like I was reading a retelling of a castaway adventure with amazing tension and descriptions that had me cringing, and others it felt like I was reading a history textbook and studying for an exam.
I was rooting for the men, and I was fascinated by watching their "society" crumble when faced with hardships. I'm amazed that any of them survived at all.

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koboldmartian's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

5/5.

I do not really have any good experience reading non-fiction so forgive me if this review is not as eloquent, but this was the most gripping and fascinating non-fiction story I have ever read. David Grann's writing is so immersive and clear and painted such a vivid picture of the turmoil, and horrors that these men were put through.

The book is structured beautifully, it flowed well, I was angry at people, I sympathized with people, I was disgusted by what they did or what they had to do, I was all the proper emotions needed to read this book.

This book was so educating and the life that people had to live back then on the ocean is just absolutely terrible. The entire time, I felt pulled by both "parties" involved in this stories and I don't think you can really blame anyone of the decisions made in this situation; it really makes you think about what you would do put in these men's shoes.

I will be picking up Grann's other works to read and this book has opened the floodgates for non-fiction for me. I hope to read more especially if they are this engaging.

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gringolet's review against another edition

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dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.75

A well researched, entertaining and fascinating book. David Grann good as usual

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sherlocktomes's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

David Grann back with another excellent blend of informative, entertaining and somewhat reflective writing.

Highly researched, approachable and balanced, this account details the birth and death of The Wager, a ship in 1700’s Britain tasked with colonising and plundering native and non native peoples to increase the British empires hold over the worlds land and resources.

Grann helps paint a vision of the sheer unrelenting and unpredictable nature of the sea, at times you wonder how much more these sailors can endure, and yet the story carries on.

As with KOTFM, I felt I would have liked more commitment from the author towards documenting the extent of the genocidal and colonial actions of so many western countries at this time, particularly their treatment of native peoples who, on the whole, were far more intelligent, resourceful and organised than the people who reduced them to a stereotype of “savages”. I do feel more of a background of the British empire as it stood at that time, and their use of the Navy to do so would have been beneficial for giving more context for the average reader.

Overall, a thorough and very enjoyable read (albeit grim and miserable). 5/5

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