The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does David Grann’s background as a journalist influence his approach to telling this historical tale? What techniques does he employ to make distant historical events feel immediate and engaging?
• The book opens with the dramatic arrival of emaciated survivors in Brazil. How does this opening shape your expectations for the rest of the narrative? Did the rest of the work bear out those expectations?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Have you ever been part of a group under extreme stress? How did the experience affect group dynamics and leadership? What parallels do you see with the survivors’ situation?
• Which individual’s choices resonated most strongly with you? If you had been in their position, would you have sided with Captain Cheap or joined Bulkeley’s mutiny?
• The survivors relied heavily on Indigenous peoples for their survival yet often maintained prejudices against them. Have you encountered situations where people simultaneously depended on and discriminated against others?
• The book raises questions about memory and truth-telling. Think about a significant event you’ve experienced. How has your memory or interpretation of it changed over time?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How do modern military court proceedings differ from the court martial described in the book? What has changed in how military justice is handled?
• The British Empire’s response to the Wager incident prioritized maintaining its image over justice. What modern parallels do you see in how institutions handle public relations crises?
• The Indigenous peoples in the narrative demonstrated sophisticated survival skills that the European sailors lacked. How does this challenge colonial-era assumptions about civilization and progress? What lessons does this hold for contemporary societies?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Examine the role of written records in the story. How do different characters’ journals and accounts serve varying purposes within the narrative?
• Compare the leadership styles of Captain Cheap and John Bulkeley. How does each man’s background influence his approach to authority?
• Analyze the significance of social class in the narrative. How does it affect characters’ behavior, perceived credibility, and ultimate fates?
• Consider the symbolism of the ship itself. How does the physical deterioration of the Wager mirror the breakdown of social order among the crew?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Design a survival guide for 18th-century sailors based on the experiences of the Wager crew. What essential lessons would you include about navigation, leadership, and cultural interaction?
• Create a playlist that captures the emotional journey of the Wager survivors, from the initial shipwreck through their eventual return to England. Explain your song choices and how they reflect specific moments in the narrative.

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.