The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder is the fifth nonfiction book by American journalist David Grann.[1] The book focuses on the Wager Mutiny. It was published on April 18, 2023 by Doubleday.[2][3][4] The book became a bestseller, topping The New York Times best-seller list in the nonfiction category for its first week of publication.[5] Twenty-four weeks later, it was still at #10 on their list of best selling hardcover non-fiction books.[6]
 First edition cover design | |
| Author | David Grann |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Wager Mutiny |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | April 18, 2023 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, e-book |
| Pages | 352 pp. (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0385534260 (Hardcover) |
| 910.9164/1 | |
| LC Class | G530.W25 G73 2023 |
| Preceded by | The White Darkness |
Theme
editThe book concentrates on the story of HMS Wager, a square-rigged sixth-rate Royal Navy ship, and the mutiny that took place after the ship's wreckage in 1741.[7]
Reception
editIn their starred review, Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Recounting the tumultuous events in tense detail, Grann sets the Wager episode in the context of European imperialism as much as the wrath of the sea. A brisk, absorbing history and a no-brainer for fans of the author's suspenseful historical thrillers."[8] Publishers Weekly wrote that Grann "packs the narrative with fascinating details about life at sea [...] and makes excellent use of primary sources".[9] Matthew Teague of The Guardian commented, "There's an expectation, in reviewing a book like The Wager, to balance its strengths with some discussion of its flaws. But The Wager is one of the finest nonfiction books I've ever read. I can only offer the highest praise a writer can give: endless envy, as deep and salty as the sea."[10] Chris Vognar of The Boston Globe wrote, "Grann guides us through this process, step by step, storm by storm, man by man, in prose that the writers he references, including Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad, would appreciate."[11] Carl Hoffman of The Washington Post described the book as "almost pure, horror-filled plot, without the usual Grannian first-person moments, a tightly written, relentless, blow-by-blow account that is hard to put down, even as there are sometimes frustrating narrative gaps, a result of the limits of nonfiction grappling with 280-year-old events."[12]
Adaptation
editIn July 2022, Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio acquired the screen rights to the book. The project is supposed to reteam the key actors and companies standing behind the recent adaptation of Grann's previous book, Killers of the Flower Moon.[13][14][15]
In January 2024, an abridged version of the book was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week.[16]
References
edit- ^ Briger, Sam (18 April 2023). "'The Wager' chronicles shipwreck, mutiny and murder at the tip of South America". NPR. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Grann, David (28 February 2023). "A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder". The New Yorker. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Szalai, Jennifer (14 April 2023). "With His Tale of Shipwreck, David Grann Is Steady as He Goes". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Hewer, Mariko (11 May 2023). "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder | Washington Independent Review of Books". Washington Independent Review of Books. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction - Best Sellers - Books - May 7, 2023 - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Sawyer, Michael (19 May 2023). "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder". Library Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "THE WAGER". Kirkus Reviews. February 10, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder". Publishers Weekly. February 28, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- ^ Teague, Matthew (30 April 2023). "The Wager review: David Grann's magnificent shipwreck epic". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ Vognar, Chris (April 12, 2023). "David Grann's 'The Wager' looks beneath the veneer of civilization in a tale of mutiny and empire". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Hoffman, Carl (April 18, 2023). "Anything can go wrong at sea. On this voyage, everything did". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Borys Kit (July 29, 2022). "Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese Tackling Naval Survival Tale 'The Wager' for Apple, Imperative (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (July 29, 2022). "Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese Reteam For Apple Film 'The Wager' Based On David Grann Book". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (29 July 2022). "Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese to Adapt Shipwreck Survival Story 'The Wager' for Apple". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "The Wager by David Grann". BBC Online. Retrieved 12 January 2024.