The Wager By David Grann
You have no doubt heard or read about the Mutiny on the Bounty. It is the story of a British Man-of-War. A Master’s mate instigated a munity putting the captain and some of his loyal followers adrift in a small boat.
The Wager is a book about a much less famous British Man-of-War and a much more confusing “mutiny”.
While rounding the Cape Horn, in what is still considered to be one of the most inhospitable water ways in the world, the HMS Wager became separated from her squadron under the command of Commodore Anson.
While attempting to make land fall on an island off the cost of present-day southern Chile, the Wager runs aground, resulting in the splitting of the ship’s company into three groups.
One group is led by the ship’s captain, Lieutenant David Cheap, the second by Jhon Bulkeley, the Gunners” Mate, and the third by boatswain John King.
The book is a detailed account of the three groups’ interactions, separation, and journey back to England. The narrative encompasses themes of murder, abandonment, navigation skills, and potential acts of treason against the Crown and nation.
All the actions described in the book are fully documented through journals, ship logs, courts martial records, and first-hand testimonies of the survivors.
If you look up Wager Island, Chile on Google Maps you will get an idea of the desperation these sailors faced. Even today it would be a very harsh and remote location to be ship wrecked on. The Wager is not so much a historical read as it is a view into the actions of men faced with seamlessly insurmountable problems with little to no resources.
This is not a lite summer read, but one that is well worth the effort. Not that the read is a difficult one, but the moral issues and the self-reflection required does require thought.
RATING
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The Wager contains multiple depictions of violent illness and grotesque death throughout. There are occasions of cannibalism, a dog is killed and eaten, and murder. Historic foul language is used throughout. Ye be warned.