A review by rebeccarennerfl
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

5.0

This book lives up to the hype. It's my favorite book of the year. I'm a maritime history buff. (I've even written about sea shanties for the NYT!) So I knew significant parts of this story already. I had read some of the source material years ago. That's what's so uncanny to me about The Wager: Even with all of my background knowledge, the story felt new and fresh. It was truly gripping. I can't imagine how exciting it would be coming to the tale with new eyes.

I recommend The Wager for history buffs, maritime enthusiasts—plus lovers of Horatio Hornblower, Moby Dick, and the Master and Commander series, all of which were influenced by the true events that unfold in this book.