Captain's Dinner

Come for the cannibalism, stay for the moral crisis. Official Companion to Captain's Dinner by Adam Cohen, on sale November 18, 2025.

Welcome to Captain's Dinner

An immersive world around the landmark case that transformed law and ethics forever.

Why Do Dads Love Shipwreck Books?

Adrienne Westenfeld investigates this surprisingly popular genre.

The Curious Case of the Four Richard Parkers

Buckle up for a tale of cannibalism at sea, both fictional and all-too real, and the extraordinary coincidences that tie it all together.

Praise for Captain's Dinner

The Washington Post: 6 noteworthy books for November and December

A Victorian-era cannibalism case poses a simple but profound question

“The custom of the sea” ended with a landmark conviction in Britain.

Crime, Punishment, and What Comes After

Inside the long afterlife of Queen v. Dudley and Stephens, from the crew's bitter endings to the enduring legacy of the court case.

Survival Cannibalism Goes On Trial

As the men stand trial for murder, England experiences a dark night of the soul.

An Unexpected Homecoming

After a miraculous rescue, the crew of the Mignonette heads for England, but their ordeal is only just getting started.

Introducing a New Weekly Serialization of Captain's Dinner

Our first installment features a shipwreck, a desperate situation at sea, and a murder most foul.

A Sailor's Life For Me

A maritime historian takes us inside the Age of Sail, a period of rapid advancement (and ubiquitous danger) that changed the world as we know it.

On the Trail of the Cannibals

I Slept in a Prison Cell to Research a Murder