The Wager Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Cape Horn and our BookBrowse Review of The Wager.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

These are original discussion questions written by BookBrowse.

1. In the introduction, David Grann writes that rather than "smoothing out every difference, or further shading the already shaded evidence," he's "tried to present all sides, leaving it to you to render the ultimate verdict." How did this note affect your approach to the book, if at all? Do you think he succeeded in his aim?
2. Did you know about the wreck and mutiny of The Wager before reading the book?
3. What aspects of life in the British Navy were familiar to you before reading the book? Did you learn anything new, or did anything surprise you?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Vintage. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.