The Wager

"The Wager" is a historical narrative about the 1741 shipwreck of the HMS Wager, a British warship that crashed off the coast of Patagonia during a secret military expedition. The survivors endured extreme conditions, and after being rescued, different factions of the crew gave conflicting accounts, leading to accusations of mutiny and a court-martial.

"The Wager" was published in April 2023 by Doubleday. It became an instant bestseller and followed Grann's previous major successes, including "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Lost City of Z."

Yes, a film adaptation of "The Wager" is in development with Apple Original Films, with Martin Scorsese attached to direct and Leonardo DiCaprio set to star. The collaboration re-teams the pair who also worked on the film adaptation of Grann's "Killers of the Flower Moon."

Grann drew on extensive primary sources, including the published accounts written by crew members such as John Bulkeley and David Cheap, as well as logs from other ships in the expedition. He also consulted archives in Britain and traveled to sites connected to the wreck and the survivors' journeys.

After the wreck in 1741, the survivors split into two groups: one sailed a makeshift boat over 2,500 miles to Brazil, while another, led by Captain David Cheap, attempted to travel overland through Patagonia. When the groups returned to England, they accused each other of mutiny, resulting in a dramatic court-martial.