On 28 January 1742, a battered boat arrived on Brazil’s coast, carrying thirty half-dead men with a shocking tale. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship The Wager, wrecked off Patagonia in 1741 while chasing Spanish treasure during a secret wartime mission. Stranded and starving, the crew built a fragile craft and sailed 2,500 miles over brutal seas. Hailed as heroes—until, months later, another ragged boat reached Chile with three men accusing the first group of mutiny. The accused claimed tyranny in return. The truth? A descent into chaos, betrayal, and murder—leading to a court martial where the guilty might hang.
About David Grann
An American staff writer for The New Yorker and a bestselling author, celebrated for his immersive, meticulously researched narrative non-fiction. His works, including Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z, delve into forgotten histories, unsolved mysteries, and extraordinary true stories, often uncovering shocking injustices and human endurance. Grann's writing is characterized by its gripping storytelling, extensive archival research, and ability to transform complex historical events into compelling, page-turning narratives.
Other Books by David Grann
Killers of the Flower Moon
by David Grann
This gripping nonfiction work uncovers the chilling murders of Osage Nation members in 1920s Oklahoma, who were targeted for their oil wealth. As bodies piled up, the newly formed FBI took on the case—exposing a web of greed, racism, and corruption. Killers of the Flower Moon is a meticulously researched, suspenseful narrative that sheds light on a dark chapter of American history, blending true crime with a call for justice.
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