The Wager

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon comes a gripping tale of shipwreck, survival, and savagery, culminating in a court martial that uncovers a shocking truth. The narrative explores the events surrounding the Wager, revealing that it was not just the captain and crew on trial, but the very concept of empire itself. On January 28, 1742, a battered vessel washed ashore in Brazil, carrying thirty emaciated men with an extraordinary story. They were survivors of His Majesty's Ship the Wager, which had embarked on a secret mission in 1740 during an imperial conflict with Spain. After wrecking on a desolate island off Patagonia while pursuing a treasure-laden Spanish galleon, the men endured months of starvation before constructing a flimsy craft and sailing nearly 3,000 miles over more than a hundred days. Initially hailed as heroes, their status quickly shifted when another decrepit boat arrived in Chile, carrying three castaways who told a starkly different story. The thirty sailors were labeled mutineers, and accusations of tyranny and murder emerged, revealing a descent into anarchy among the crew. As the Admiralty convened a court martial to uncover the truth, the stakes became life-and-death, with potential hangings for the guilty. This grand tale of extreme human behavior, masterfully recounted, captivates with its incredible twists and turns.