The Wager by David Grann Summary: Uncovering the True Story of Shipwreck and Survival

The Wager by David Grann: A Gripping Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder

The Wager, written by David Grann and published in 2023 by Doubleday, offers a captivating exploration of a harrowing historical event. The full title, “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder”, perfectly encapsulates the dramatic story of the HMS Wager and its ill-fated journey. The subtitle of an earlier published account, written by Bulkeley and Cummins, expands on the event’s grim nature, titled “A Faithful Narrative of the Loss of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager on a Desolate Island in the Latitude 47 South, Longitude 81:40 West: With the Proceedings and Conduct of the Officers and Crew, and the Hardships They Endured in the Said Island for the Space of Five Months.”

In this thrilling narrative, David Grann delves deep into the tragic story of the HMS Wager, which was part of Commodore Anson’s squadron during its historic expedition. The focus of the book is on the shipwreck of the Wager off the coast of Patagonia (encompassing parts of Argentina and Chile) and the survival struggles faced by the shipwreck victims on a desolate island. The harrowing journey of survival soon transforms into a tale of mutiny and murder as tensions escalate among the castaways, providing a gripping account of human endurance and moral dilemmas.

Grann’s book draws extensively from a wealth of historical sources, including survivors’ journals, dispatches, published accounts, and private correspondence, offering an in-depth and authentic perspective on the events. Not only does the narrative highlight the extreme physical hardships faced by the survivors, but it also delves into leadership conflicts within the group, particularly the figures of David Cheap, the ambitious first lieutenant of the Centurion, Bulkeley, the determined gunner who kept a meticulous logbook, and John Byron, the young midshipman who played a significant role in the story.

Moreover, The Wager explores the power of narrative in shaping history, as seen in the competition to publish accounts of the expedition and its fate. Grann discusses how these differing accounts influenced public perception of the events and how historical narratives are shaped through personal and collective lenses.

With its themes of survival, human nature under extreme pressure, and the construction of history, The Wager by David Grann is an enthralling read for anyone interested in the complexities of human behavior during times of crisis and the intriguing power of storytelling in shaping historical events

The Wager by David Grann  Details & Statistics

Statistics of The Wager by David Grann

Best Sellers Rank:

• #1,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
• #3 in Maritime History & Piracy (Books)
• #5 in Great Britain History (Books)
• #10 in Murder & Mayhem True Accounts

Customer Reviews:

• 4.4 out of 5 stars (35,086 ratings)

Genres:

• Nonfiction
• History
• Audiobook
• Historical
• Adventure

The Wager by David Grann Quotes

1. By portraying the natives as both magnificent and less than human, Europeans tried to pretend that their brutal mission of conquest was somehow righteous and heroic.

2. As Samuel Johnson once observed, “No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.

3. Yet they were compelled onward by that mysterious narcotic: hope.

4. As the writer Janet Malcolm once observed, “The law is the guardian of the ideal of unmediated truth, truth stripped bare of the ornament of narration….The story that can best withstand the attrition of the rules of evidence is the story that wins.

5. We all impose some coherence—some meaning—on the chaotic events of our existence

6. The entries should be made as soon as possible after each event takes place, and nothing should be entered which the mate would not be willing to adhere to in a court of justice.

7. He knew the precise point on a cresting wave when a crew should unleash fire.

8. It gave him a voice, even if no one but him would ever hear it.

9. Presence of mind, and courage in distress, Are more than armies to procure success.

10. Persons who have not experienced the hardships we have met with,” Bulkeley wrote, “will wonder how people can be so inhuman to see their fellow creatures starving before their faces, and afford ’em no relief. But hunger is void of all compassion

11. Empires preserve their power with the stories that they tell, but just as critical are the stories they don’t—the dark silences they impose, the pages they tear out.

The Wager by David Grann Table Of Contents

• Map: The Route of HMS Wager
  
• Map: Passage Around Cape Horn
  
• Map: Location of Shipwreck
  
• Map: First Castaway Party’s Escape Route
  
• Map: Second Castaway Part’s Escape Route

• Author’s Note
  
• Prologue

• Part One: The Wooden World
  1 The First Lieutenant
  2 A Gentleman Volunteer
  3 The Gunner

• Part Two: Into the Storm
  4 Dead Reckoning
  5 The Storm Within the Storm
  6 Alone
  7 The Gulf of Pain

• Part Three: Castaways
  8 Wreckage
  9 The Beast
  10 Our New Town
  11 Nomads of the Sea
  12 The Lord of Mount Misery
  13 Extremities
  14 Affections of the People
  15 The Ark
  16 My Mutineers

• Part Four: Deliverance
  17 Byron’s Choice
  18 Port of God’s Mercy
  19 The Haunting
  20 The Day of Our Deliverance

• Part Five: Judgment
  21 A Literary Rebellion
  22 The Prize
  23 Grub Street Hacks
  24 The Docket
  25 The Court-Martial
  26 The Version That Won

  Epilogue
  Illustrations
  Acknowledgments
  Notes
  Selected Bibliography
  Index
  Illustration Credits

The Wager by David Grann Summary

Part One: The Wooden World

Introduction to Commodore Anson’s Expedition and Key Individuals
In the opening section, we are introduced to Commodore Anson’s expedition, set during the war with Spain, focusing on key figures such as David Cheap, the first lieutenant of the Centurion. The harsh realities of war and leadership dynamics are explored, with a special emphasis on Anson’s attention to detail despite his dislike for paperwork. This part sets the stage for the impending trials the crew will face. We also meet John Bulkeley, the gunner, who documents the voyage in his logbook, showcasing the dangers of navigating the treacherous waters around Cape Horn.

Part Two: Into the Storm

Navigating Cape Horn and the Struggles of Survival
The journey grows increasingly perilous as the fleet attempts to navigate around Cape Horn, with chapters titled “Dead Reckoning” and “The Storm Within the Storm,” indicating both external storms and internal turmoil. The HMS Wager becomes separated from the rest of the squadron in Chapter 6, signaling the beginning of its tragic fate. Chapter 7, titled “The Gulf of Pain,” marks the dramatic shipwreck of the Wager off the coast of Patagonia.

Part Three: Castaways

The Struggle for Survival on the Desolate Island
In this section, the survivors of the shipwreck must navigate the harrowing conditions on the desolate island. Chapters explore their struggles for food and resources and the development of leadership conflicts, particularly between Captain Cheap and his men. The dire circumstances push the castaways to the brink of madness, with desperate acts such as eating discarded animal parts, highlighted in Chapter 13. The growing tensions culminate in mutiny as Bulkeley organizes a petition to abandon Captain Cheap due to his erratic behavior. This decision sets the stage for a deeper conflict.

Part Four: Deliverance

The Journey to Escape and Rescue
This part follows the survivors’ attempts to escape the island. In Chapter 17, “Byron’s Choice”, John Byron makes a crucial decision about which group to join. Chapters like “Port of God’s Mercy” suggest a potential rescue site, while “The Haunting” reflects on the psychological toll of their ordeal. Chapter 20, “The Day of Our Deliverance”, recounts the rescue of some survivors, including Bulkeley and Cummins, who eventually make their way back to England.

Part Five: Judgment

The Aftermath and Legal Scrutiny
The final section delves into the aftermath of the survivors’ return, focusing on the legal and public scrutiny they faced. Chapter 21, “A Literary Rebellion”, describes how the survivors, particularly Bulkeley, published conflicting accounts of the events, each attempting to sway public opinion and the Admiralty’s view. The narrative ultimately settled on a version that painted the events in a specific light. Chapters 24 and 25, titled “The Docket” and “The Court-Martial,” examine the legal proceedings initiated by the Admiralty to investigate the accusations of mutiny and misconduct. The final chapter, “The Version That Won”, reveals how a particular narrative prevailed and shaped the public perception of the Wager’s disaster.

About the Author: David Grann

David Grann is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. He is renowned for his critically acclaimed works, including The Wager, The Lost City of Z, and Killers of the Flower Moon. The latter was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Grann is also the author of The White Darkness and the collection The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession. His book Killers of the Flower Moon was adapted into a major film directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro. Other works like The Lost City of Z and Old Man and the Gun were also turned into successful films.

His investigative journalism and compelling storytelling have earned him prestigious honors, including a George Polk Award and an Edgar Allan Poe Award.

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