David Grann: New York journalist and author on the story behind new book 'The Wager' - The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

New York journalist and author David Grann subverted colonial stereotypes in his retelling of a seafaring story.

On January 28, 1742, thirty survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager washed up months after being wrecked off off the coast of Patagonia, and the crew were greeted as heroes.

Six months later, three more castaways turned up off the coast of Chile with a different story about how everyone survived the experience.

David Grann says the seeds of destruction within this story were there from the beginning, as these people were just as susceptible to damage as the ships. 

"You can only imagine- you'd have to build the band of brothers to operate these ships, but the challenges were enormous on The Wager and the other ships on the squadron." 

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