The Wager

A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

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David Grann: The Wager (AudiobookFormat, 2023, Random House Audio)

audio cd

Published April 18, 2023 by Random House Audio.

ISBN:
978-0-307-74748-8
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5 stars (2 reviews)

7 editions

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5 stars

The book delivers on its title. The author is the same guy who wrote Killers of the Flower Moon and he sure know how to write page-turners. Here, the basic story is about a squadron of British ships that, in 1740, were sent to chase after a Spanish galleon to steal its supposed load of silver. In order to do that, the squadron would have to round Cape Horn. A lot happens. Three different groups from the original crews make it back to England after about 6 years, some were shipwrecked, some carried out the mission, and two different groups of castaways ended back home through separate routes. It is a rich narrative, and a darn good story. Colonialism still sucks.