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cojack's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating look at an expedition I didn't know too much about. Lewis & Clark are the famous trailblazers, but Astor's crews (one overland, one by boat), really set the stage for American expansion into the Oregon territory. A group in Astor's overland party found the route that become the Oregon Trail (it was more suited to wheeled carts/coaches than previously explored routes). The book bogged down a little in the personal details of all the personnel involved, and I would have liked more information about the years after the British claimed Astoria and when the Americans got it back. But that said, some of the details were incredible. Book after book bout westward expansion shows these guys had ZERO idea what they were getting into, especially regarding the number of mountain passes and how to survive a winter. And, as every era of history tells us, it's the arrogant rich dudes trying to claim more riches who sacrifice the lives of the guys doing the work.
I read and listened to this. The narrator was a little to stiff and old-timey for me, but otherwise it worked as an audiobook. I might give a nod to the physical book for keeping names straight. There were many Scottish men involved and I got their names mixed up a few times when listening to the audiobook.
I read and listened to this. The narrator was a little to stiff and old-timey for me, but otherwise it worked as an audiobook. I might give a nod to the physical book for keeping names straight. There were many Scottish men involved and I got their names mixed up a few times when listening to the audiobook.
melissadelzio's review against another edition
5.0
Ship explosions, raging rivers, Indian friendships/conflicts, threats of cannibalism, and one of the richest men in New York, this book is thrilling. It dives deep into the personal relationships, the individual personalities, successes and failures of these explorers, and zooms out to study the geo-political forces driving 3 warring countries. I gained a new appreciation for what the wild frontier truly meant, and respect for the native peoples who led the way. Also, I am claiming Marie Dorian as Oregon's first feminist!
aesthival's review against another edition
3.0
Last year, I visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, OR and this book was in the gift shop, I finally got around to reading it.
This documents the trek across the United States that fur traders sent by John Jacob Astor took to reach the Columbia River and establish outposts for the Pacific Fur Company. I don’t know why I keep being impressed to find the same names throughout a lot of innovation and exploration recently. It makes sense that a family amongst the wealthiest and most prominent in the gilded age would be among the first to attempt settlement on the West coast. I am curious what could have been if not for the war of 1812 and the initial loss of Fort Astoria. Probably just more pillaging and destruction of the natural world.
While the facts where interesting, this book wasn't very well organized and the flow was a bit rough.
This documents the trek across the United States that fur traders sent by John Jacob Astor took to reach the Columbia River and establish outposts for the Pacific Fur Company. I don’t know why I keep being impressed to find the same names throughout a lot of innovation and exploration recently. It makes sense that a family amongst the wealthiest and most prominent in the gilded age would be among the first to attempt settlement on the West coast. I am curious what could have been if not for the war of 1812 and the initial loss of Fort Astoria. Probably just more pillaging and destruction of the natural world.
While the facts where interesting, this book wasn't very well organized and the flow was a bit rough.
pkadams's review against another edition
4.0
On the heels of Lewis and Clark, came John Jacob Astor's audaciously funded enterprise: a Pacific trading outpost that would make the United States a Pacific trading power. The fortunes of the endeavor were well known to Americans in the 19th century (Washington Irving penned a best seller, [b:Astoria|73692|Astoria|Washington Irving|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1170840100l/73692._SY75_.jpg|71314]), but have since faded. Stark recounts the history and tell the fates of the two expeditions Astor sent: one overland and the other by ship. Missteps, harrowing conditions, poor judgement, and global politics all impacted the fate of these two expeditions. The story of the Pacific Northwest, the indigenous peoples, and the incredible land was actually the most fascinating part of the story. Human nature at its worst, poor leadership and a lack of collaboration resulted in too much violence, too many deaths and too many lost opportunities.
emilybryk's review against another edition
5.0
Mind-blowingly terrifying, at intervals. Stark does a great job setting up the utter remoteness and how horrifyingly on their own the Astorians were, and he deserves a lot of credit for it.
This is probably my own fault (since I read it while dealing with a nasty case of quinsy), but I'd sometimes have some trouble noticing when people joined or left the expedition -- I never caught that Hunt had left on the Beaver, so when he returned I was confused.
This is probably my own fault (since I read it while dealing with a nasty case of quinsy), but I'd sometimes have some trouble noticing when people joined or left the expedition -- I never caught that Hunt had left on the Beaver, so when he returned I was confused.
valerieelseswhere's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a wild ride, all the more wild because it's all true. It is one well written and entertaining history book full of stories I had never heard about the challenge of white men trying to claim the Northwest coast of North America and it's many resources for themselves. Definitely recommend this book.
kimberly_b's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fascinating read on the little-known story of the founding of Astoria and John Jacob Astor's global economic vision. In reality, Astor's name should be just as well-know today as Lewis and Clark's. However, through circumstances both out of his control and of his own making, Astor's achievements didn't turn out to be quite what he had envisioned. The tales of the overland and sea going parties of explorers were harrowing and engrossing. I typically find most of the non-fiction books I read to be slow and laborious; Astoria is the opposite of that.
I hadn't ever read a book by Stark, but I certainly will after reading this. I found his Acknowledgments and Afterward sections particularly interesting. I was just as captivated by the psychology of all the people in play as he was writing about them. 5 stars.
I hadn't ever read a book by Stark, but I certainly will after reading this. I found his Acknowledgments and Afterward sections particularly interesting. I was just as captivated by the psychology of all the people in play as he was writing about them. 5 stars.