David Grann's The Wager is a nonfiction, riveting story about a ship and its sailors. In the 18th century, England and Spain are at war. The Wager was a part of a squadron of ships assigned to capture some Spanish ships. The Wager hoped to win a lot of treasure.
Grann's descriptions of a sailor's life were so descriptive, I was repulsed. Who would choose such a life? If diseases like scurvy and typhus didn't kill you, the life on the ship would. And where they were going was known to be treacherous--around Cape Horn.
The Wager was wrecked. The sailors were marooned. Eventually, the men acted like animals. Some took their chances and took off on rafts and small boats. Surprisingly, some made it back to England and they told their story.
But then, others made it back to England and they told a different story. There's even a third story.
I won't spoil the book, by telling how the investigation decided. The reader will have their view, also. It is an excellent history, well researched with pictures of the captain and the types of boats, ships, and people. It is an adventure to remember.
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