Wager by David Grann

The Wager is a gripping nonfiction narrative by bestselling author David Grann that recounts one of the most dramatic maritime survival stories in British naval history. The book explores the 1741 wreck of HMS Wager, part of a secret British mission during the War with Spain, and the harrowing ordeal of the crew survivors who washed up on desolate shores of Patagonia. Through meticulous research, firsthand accounts, and archival records, Grann reconstructs the voyage, shipwreck, survival struggles, conflicting survivor stories, and the subsequent court martial that exposed deep divisions, accusations of mutiny, and political maneuvering. The narrative reflects on human resilience, the fragility of social order, and how history is shaped by power and perspective