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toricherry's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, this is one of the most unhinged and surreal tales of human desperation and also resilience I have ever read. Furthermore, the research was impeccable and the writing was well done-it almost read like fiction at certain points.
andykrahling's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing tale. Truth is stranger than fiction. The research that went into this is unbelievable.
csavas's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.75
3.75/5
Interesting story, author did a great job with explaining the historical context. I listened on audiobook so it was a little more difficult to keep track of all the relevant shipmates and the varying perspectives.
I think this book would’ve been better to read than to listen to.
Interesting story, author did a great job with explaining the historical context. I listened on audiobook so it was a little more difficult to keep track of all the relevant shipmates and the varying perspectives.
I think this book would’ve been better to read than to listen to.
kitkatkick's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
The Wager’s in-depth views of the major players make them feel genuinely realistic without the author making too many assumptions about their words and actions. At times, the book strays too far from the wreck itself, giving a lot of focus to the fleet that the Wager was part of and the exploit’s of that fleet’s commander after being separated from the Wager.
Ultimately, it’s hard to rate books about maritime- or really any expeditious- disasters without letting the story of the disaster itself color the decision. The wreck of the HMS Wager brought out some of the worst of humanity. When compared to other events, for example the Shackleton expedition to Antarctica, it seems atrocious, yet the book is easily as good as Alfred Lansing’s “Endurance.”
Ultimately, it’s hard to rate books about maritime- or really any expeditious- disasters without letting the story of the disaster itself color the decision. The wreck of the HMS Wager brought out some of the worst of humanity. When compared to other events, for example the Shackleton expedition to Antarctica, it seems atrocious, yet the book is easily as good as Alfred Lansing’s “Endurance.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cannibalism
Explicit descriptions of starvation and fighting over lack of food. Desertion/marooning of many individuals. Explicit description of lashings.youkirmv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.5
vadelmaisin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I was hooked from beginning to end.
kiwiflora's review against another edition
4.0
Plenty of reviews detailing the plot so won't add to it. But history brought to life! An amazing book, with incredible and exhaustive research that is not as huge as you might think, thanks to the 60 plus pages of notes. Easy to read, superbly engaging and a cracking good story. The British Empire was founded on journeys in large wooden boats to the other side of the world under atrocious living and working conditions, looking for land, fending off rivals, battles at sea. Disease, injury, storms, discontent in the ranks - so much that could and did go wrong in any of these journeys, it is a miracle any ship made it back to Portsmouth. What a life. It seems that discipline and rules and keeping everyone in their place was the key to the success of the British navy. But when all the holes in the cheese line up and it goes catastrophically wrong, falling apart, then a whole new world order emerges. Who will live and who will die? What an incredible story of survival, tenacity and bloody good luck. So good.