Captain's Dinner

‘Thoroughly researched and impeccably argued, Captain’s Dinner is both a terrific and an important story. It’s a perfect enunciation of the classic philosophical conundrum: can you sacrifice one innocent life to save many? That is a moral dilemma as relevant today as it was in Victorian England.’ *Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi *

‘Adam Cohen takes on one of life’s defining moral questions in this riveting historical exploration about a difficult choice at sea that led to a murder trial that set a new precedent.’ Barnes & Noble, Best History Books of 2025

‘Drama abounds on the high seas and in the courtroom … a gripping look at a foundational moral shift of the modern era.’ Publishers Weekly

‘Journalist and author Cohen strikes gold … A legal milestone and a good read.’ Kirkus Reviews

‘This was not the first act of cannibalism in the name of survival, but it was the first that changed the world. For students of legal history, this one’s a must-read.’ David Pitt, Booklist

‘A briskly told, deeply researched study … While Mr. Cohen engages readers with a lively and suspenseful narrative, he is also interested in exploring the intricate logic of the legal decision.’ Donna Sanders, The Wall Street Journal

‘Is killing one innocent person justified if it saves the lives of three others? Adam Cohen’s answer—in this riveting account of Dudley and Stephens, one of the most famous cases in legal history—reads like a thriller. And it begs the question of each of us: what would you do?’ Antony J. Blinken, former U.S. Secretary of State

Adam Cohen is the author of Imbeciles: The Supreme Court, American Eugenics, and The Sterilization of Carrie Buck, which was longlisted for the National Book Award. He is also the author of Supreme Inequality: The Supreme Court’s Fifty-Year Battle for a More Unjust America and Nothing to Fear: FDR’s Inner Circle and the 100 Days That Created Modern America.

Cohen is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served as president of volume 100 of the Harvard Law Review. He was a member of the NYT editorial board and a senior writer for Time.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.