8 Captivating Reads on Historical Acts of Cannibalism

Cannibalism is currently a hot topic in literature. Bestsellers like A Certain Hunger, Tender is the Flesh, The Eyes are the Best Part, and The Hunger have captivated readers with their gruesome themes. However, the truth can be even more shocking than fiction. The books featured here delve into real-life scenarios where individuals faced dire circumstances—natural disasters, famines, and shipwrecks—forcing them to choose between survival and consuming human flesh.

Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History // Bill Schutt

In Cannibalism, zoologist and author Bill Schutt explores how cannibalism is a natural behavior across various species. While some animals engage in it as part of survival instincts, others have less obvious reasons. Humans, too, have resorted to cannibalism under extreme conditions. In an interview with NPR, Schutt described it as a “natural behavior,” explaining that in dire starvation scenarios, people might first consume the dead before resorting to killing for survival—though some choose to starve instead. The book also examines practices like medical cannibalism, including Schutt’s own experience tasting human tissue. “Many compare it to pork or veal, but to me, it was unique,” he told Scientific American. “I finished every bite, and it’s an experience I’ll always remember.”

Jamestown: The Truth Revealed // William M. Kelso

Authored by the lead archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, Jamestown: The Truth Revealed offers a gripping exploration of the events during the brutal winter of 1609. In 2012, conclusive proof of cannibalism during “The Starving Time” emerged with the discovery of a 14-year-old girl’s skull and leg bone, marked by cuts from sharp tools. Kelso meticulously examines the forensic evidence and vividly reconstructs the desperate conditions of that winter.

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex // Nathaniel Philbrick

In the Heart of the Sea recounts the harrowing story of the Essex, which was destroyed by a sperm whale in 1820. Philbrick draws from historical records, including the testimony of Thomas Nickerson, a 14-year-old cabin boy at the time. Adrift in small boats with scarce supplies, the crew initially ate those who died naturally. After over two months at sea, they resorted to drawing lots to decide who would be sacrificed for the others’ survival. Owen Coffin, aged 16, was killed and consumed. Ninety-three days after the Essex sank, the last survivors were discovered, barely alive and gnawing on the bones of their deceased companions. This chilling account inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.

Searching for Franklin: New Answers to the Great Arctic Mystery // Ken McGoogan

Sir John Franklin’s Arctic expeditions often ended in disaster, but none were as tragic as his 1845 voyage. When his ships became trapped in ice, Franklin died, and eventually, the entire crew perished. Searching for Franklin is a gripping nonfiction account that delves into the expedition’s horrors and Lady Franklin’s relentless quest to find her husband. She funded multiple Arctic missions and, upon hearing Inuit accounts of cannibalism among the crew, dismissed the claims. She even enlisted Charles Dickens to discredit the reports, which she believed falsely blamed the Inuit.

The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party // Daniel James Brown

The Indifferent Stars Above chronicles the journey of Sarah Graves and her husband as they join the ill-fated Donner Party, stranded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the harsh winter of 1846. This event became infamous for its extreme survival measures, including cannibalism. Instead of sensationalizing the tragedy, the book humanizes the individuals who faced unimaginable choices. It also addresses darker aspects, such as the killing of two Indigenous guides for food and the accusations against Lewis Keseberg, who was alleged to have murdered and consumed fellow travelers despite knowing rescue was near.

Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal // Harold Schechter

Man-Eater recounts the tale of Alfred G. Packer, the sole survivor of a disastrous 1873 expedition through the Colorado Rockies. Packer provided conflicting accounts of the events, initially claiming he survived on plant roots, though his healthy appearance cast doubt on this. When the bodies of his companions were discovered with flesh removed, Packer admitted to cannibalism, stating they consumed the dead as each member perished. Arrested but later escaping, he was recaptured, confessed again with a revised story, and was tried for murder. Initially sentenced to death, his conviction was overturned, and he was ultimately found guilty of manslaughter, receiving a 40-year prison term in 1886. Journalist Polly Pry championed his innocence in 1899, leading to his parole in 1901. Despite his freedom, Packer carried the stigma of the “Colorado Cannibal” for life.

The Russian Job: The Forgotten Story of How America Saved the Soviet Union from Ruin // Douglas Smith

During the 1920s, the American Relief Organization embarked on a mission to rescue Russia from one of Europe’s most catastrophic famines. The Americans involved were unprepared for the horrors they encountered: graves were desecrated for corpses to be eaten, families consumed their own kin to survive, and women were arrested for possessing human remains. The Russian Job highlights the irony that this largely forgotten effort may have prevented the collapse of Communism, just decades before the Cold War.

Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home // Nando Parrado and Vince Rause

Miracle in the Andes offers Nando Parrado’s firsthand account of surviving Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. In October 1972, the plane carrying members of the Old Christians Club rugby team and their families crashed into the Andes. With food supplies exhausted, the survivors resorted to eating the flesh of the deceased, agreeing to use each other’s bodies if they died. Parrado describes how some, devout Catholics, reconciled their actions by likening it to drawing spiritual strength from Communion. After 72 days, Parrado and Roberto Canessa trekked over 33 miles through treacherous terrain to find help.