The Wager
A new appreciation for shipwreck
Taking a break from life and diving into an incredible tale of survival by David Grann called 'The Wager'. It is a reconstructed tale of a doomed ship of the title name in 1741 that after shipwreck saw the crew struggle to survive. After losing most of the ship to drowning, disease and even cannibalism, a few survivors clawed their way back. The resulting records and accounts are the basis for Grann's telling.
It's amazing.
I am struck by the absolute austerity these men faced in the world at that time. Compare it to a modern story about being stranded, Castaway – with Tom Hanks. Yes, he was lost and struggled, but we all knew he was only a jet plane away from salvation. A satellite phone or GPS transmitter would have negated his suffering. But with the men of the HMS The Wager, there was NO salvation, save from God, for a thousand miles.
The water, the land and the people were trying to kill them. And in most cases, one or more of them succeeded.
I wish it were a novel. It puts me in mind of Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian (first novel in a series popularized by Russell Crowe 25 years ago). I haven't done any research, but it almost feels like the accounts and records of these men are the source material O'brian drew from. I'm sure it's just the nature of life at sea in the 18th century. Fascinating, nonetheless.
I'll hold my final analysis until completion. I'm about halfway through now. I can already recommend it though. It's quite engrossing and worthy of your time.
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