Turns Out It Wasn't Such a Great Gamble

Stories of seafaring daredevils in the days of yore have always fascinated me; consequently I was delighted to get this book as a gift. It didn't disappoint. Taking place in the mid-17th century, this tale chronicles the true events of the British ship the Wager, part of a small fleet of warships tasked with chasing down a treasure-laden Spanish galleon. Sounds like something from a Disney ride, but not so much. Pretty much every step of this journey spelled doom for these sailors. Robinson Crusoe meets Castaway, meets Lord of the Flies is the best way I can describe it. Well-written and riveting.