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appalachiandiva's review against another edition
3.0
Informative but written more like a textbook than a novel. A bit dry.
aulica's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
ameyawarde's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of the more memorable history books I read this year. I don't think I have ever read/heard anything about the history of the Lewis & Clark-ish route between their expedition & the Oregon trail settlers, and as someone obSESSED with the Oregon trail as a kid, I'm glad i read this and learned more about that intervening history. Because, holy crap. This expedition did NOT GO WELL.
ladylizardxvii's review against another edition
3.0
I made it through this book only because I was highly interested in the content. The action doesn't really start picking up until 30-40% of the way through the book, and it took me three starts to be able to finish it! My main issue was that while we had these incredibly interesting characters, they were never really brought to life, and the narrative, while interesting, read too much like a history book. (And then this happened, and this caused this, etc.) All that being said, I did think the book was well researched, both of the actual people and events and also the spirit of the time, place and adventure. I don't know that I would read another book by Peter Stark, but I am glad I read this one and learned about the rise and fall of early US West Coast fur trade.
dsgn301's review against another edition
4.0
What a hardened group of explorers, undeterred by countless setbacks and failures. It was an incredible and harrowing look at the early European push across North America, and the pursuit of an empire that never really materialized for Astor. I found the story wrapped up very suddenly, the transformation from a failed fur trading outpost to the modern day Astoria wasn't mentioned.
furey's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderfully told story of exploration, survival, the building of America, and the making of John Jacob Astor. I've been to Astoria, it is a beautiful area, and in the telling of this story, I could imagine the adventurers on the travels to the Pacific Northwest area and the settling of Astoria.