Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival
Who Would Like This Book:
If you love gripping real-life adventure, unsung chapters of American history, or epic tales of exploration and survival, you’ll be hooked. Peter Stark brings to life the wild ambition of John Jacob Astor and President Jefferson as they try to forge an American empire on the Pacific coast. Between high-stakes journeys over land and sea, fascinating personalities - including stubborn captains, resourceful trappers, and indigenous communities - and the sheer scale of danger they faced, this book reads like a historical thriller. A must-read for history buffs, fans of survival stories, and anyone curious about the gritty origins of the American West.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer your history straightforward and concise, you might find the narrative’s sprawling cast and sometimes meandering pace less engaging. Some readers found a few sections slower, especially early chapters focusing on background before the action ramps up. If you’re looking for a deep dive into indigenous perspectives or want a tight focus strictly on one aspect of westward expansion, you might find this book’s broad scope a bit distracting. Others wished there were more maps and visuals to help keep track of the epic journeys.
About:
'Astoria' by Peter Stark narrates the ambitious endeavor of John Jacob Astor to establish a fur empire in the Pacific Northwest, near the mouth of the Columbia River. The story follows the hardships faced by the expedition members, including treacherous journeys by sea and land, conflicts with nature and Native Americans, and the ultimate failure of Astor's grand vision. Through vivid details and captivating storytelling, Stark brings to life the characters, decisions, and mishaps that doomed this early attempt to claim the Northwest Pacific coast of America for the United States.
Stark's narrative weaves together a tale of exploration, hardship, heroism, and conflict, showcasing the raw hubris of Astor's vision and the personal courage and stubbornness of those involved in the venture. sheds light on a forgotten chapter in American history, where a group of diverse individuals embarked on a journey that would shape the course of American empire, paving the way for the Oregon Trail and opening up the Oregon country for white settlement.
Genres:
Topics:
Notes:
From The Publisher:
In the tradition of The Lost City of Z and Skeletons in the Zahara, Astoria is the thrilling, true-adventure tale of the 1810 Astor Expedition, an epic, now forgotten, three-year journey to forge an American empire on the Pacific Coast. Peter Stark offers a harrowing saga in which a band of explorers battled nature, starvation, and madness to establish the first American settlement in the Pacific Northwest and opened up what would become the Oregon trail, permanently altering the nation's landscape and its global standing.
Six years after Lewis and Clark's began their journey to the Pacific Northwest, two of the Eastern establishment's leading figures, John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson, turned their sights to founding a colony akin to Jamestown on the West Coast and transforming the nation into a Pacific trading power. Author and correspondent for Outside magazine Peter Stark recreates this pivotal moment in American history for the first time for modern readers, drawing on original source material to tell the amazing true story of the Astor Expedition.
Unfolding over the course of three years, from 1810 to 1813, Astoria is a tale of high adventure and incredible hardship in the wilderness and at sea. Of the more than one hundred-forty members of the two advance parties that reached the West Coast-one crossing the Rockies, the other rounding Cape Horn-nearly half perished by violence. Others went mad. Within one year, the expedition successfully established Fort Astoria, a trading post on the Columbia River. Though the colony would be short-lived, it opened provincial American eyes to the potential of the Western coast and its founders helped blaze the Oregon Trail.
Ratings (4)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (17):
Read It (4) | |
Want To Read (8) | |
Not Interested (5) |
What can you read after
Astoria?
About the Author:
Peter Stark is a historian and adventure writer. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Astoria, along with The Last Empty Spaces, Last Breath, and At the Mercy of the River. He is a correspondent for Outside magazine, has written for Smithsonian and The New Yorker, and is a National Magazine Award nominee. He lives in Montana with his wife and children.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
