In 1740, when British Commodore George Anson finally set sail with his squadron of ships that were charged with disrupting Spanish maritime trade in the Pacific, many of his men were relieved to be at sea after an inauspicious and trouble-ridden start to the expedition. The numerous sick and recalcitrant sailors who’d been press-ganged into service on the ships were less than thrilled, but none of them could have expected the sheer cascade of bad fortune that would befall one ship in particular–the HMS Wager.
I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since it was announced. I have a soft spot for stories about naval adventure, but more than anything, the fact it was David Grann’s followup to Killers of the Flower Moon is what grabbed my attention. I’ve read 2 Grann books before this one, and he always crafts an interesting, well-written, well-researched, thought-provoking read.
The Wager is no different.
I don’t want to spoil too much about this book because I rather enjoyed going into it not knowing much about it, but let’s just say that whatever can go wrong does go wrong on this expedition, including but not limited to natural disasters, shipwreck, cannibalism, and mutiny. And every time I thought I knew where the story was headed, I was surprised because it always managed to unravel in a much weirder way than I would have guessed. (And I have a pretty vivid, cynical imagination.)
However, it’s not just an adventure story with shocking twists and turns. It’s also a thoughtful consideration of the British naval system and colonial expansion and a detailed exploration of everything from the hierarchy of the ship to scurvy outbreaks to exactly why rounding Cape Horn was considered such a terrifying and uncertain challenge. Grann especially excels at outlining daily life on the ship and depicting the wide range of personalities present, ranging from the stubborn Scotsman who ultimately commanded the ship to an upper-class midshipman who eventually became grandfather of noted poet Lord Byron.
Recommended for those who enjoy the work of Carl Hoffman.
Are you a David Grann fan? Have you read The Wager? What have you been reading lately? Tell us in the comments! As always, please follow this link to our online library catalog for more information on this item or to place it on hold.
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